A CRACKDOWN on Footscray boarding houses could be hindering more homeless people than it is helping, according to community workers.

Community worker Geoff Byng said he believed about 200 people had lost their residences after Maribyrnong City Council began rooming house inspections last year and closed almost 50 places.

This resulted from legislation enacted by the State Government to eliminate unlicensed and unsafe boarding houses.

Footscray Church of Christ minister Greg Gow said at least 100 people were left without a home after their boarding houses were shut down after council checks.

“It’s a real problem. It’s widespread. I only know of 100 people through the broader church community who are technically homeless and have to sleep in garages, on friend’s couches and on the street,” he said.

“Boarding houses are needed because so many people can’t afford rent.

“The other side of the argument is that a lot of boarding houses are dangerous and don’t have fire safety.

“I heard one unscrupulous operator took a student’s passport because he hadn’t been able to pay the week’s rent.”

Prisoners Advocate Victoria spokesperson Helmut Larsch, based at Arden House, said he had no official figures, but had heard Maribyrnong City Council had closed about 80 rooming houses from March 2009 until last week.

Mr Larsch estimated the number of people in Maribyrnong who had been made homeless after their boarding houses closed was much higher than 100.

“I’ve heard that a lot more people are having to go to squats after houses close,” he said.

In October, Arden House applied to the Building Appeals Board to reverse a council decision to re-classify a Footscray boarding house for seven intellectually disabled people as illegal.

Mr Larsch said the council wanted to declare the safe eight-bedroom home unlawful, as Arden House had no floor plans to give to inspection officers.

He said the home would probably have to close as a result and the outcome of the appeal was due next month. Maribyrnong mayor Sel Sanli said he did not know how many rooming houses were no longer operating, but it was not fair to point the finger at council when areas were unsafe.

“We will keep closing boarding houses if they have been found unsafe or breaking the law. They get time to comply and if they don’t, unfortunately we have to close them down,” he said.

A spokesperson for the State Government said the Department of Housing worked with tenants who had to leave rooming houses to ensure suitable alternative accommodation was identified.

“We recognise the work to improve rooming houses and accommodation for Victoria's most vulnerable citizens will be ongoing,” he said.