Community members are invited to attend a vigil to honour those in our community who are experiencing homelessness, to raise awareness about local actions being taken, and to call on the government to do more to address the housing crisis.
Homelessness Week, August 4 to 10 is an annual national event used to raise awareness of homelessness and its’ impacts and the broader and deeper systemic changes needed to address it. Homelessness Week is hosted by Homelessness Australia and this local vigil is being coordinated by the My Home Network and Dhelkaya Health Housing Team.
According to Courtney Stephens, Senior Housing Support Worker at Dhelkaya Health, on any given night 78 community members are homeless in Mount Alexander Shire, tens of people are sleeping rough and over 250 families are seeking support for housing. There is a shortfall of around 600 social housing units and far more crisis and transition housing required to meet current demand.
“Homelessness and the risk of homelessness can profoundly affect a person’s mental and physical health, education, employment opportunities, connection to community and their ability to fully participate in society” said Ms Stephens. “Everyone has a right to affordable, secure, safe, appropriate and sustainable housing.”
The community is invited to attend the vigil outside the Castlemaine Market Building, Thursday 7 August from 4 – 5 pm, to hear about the local housing supports and action including the Rough Sleeper Action Group, the Help At Hand flyer and how to donate to local supports for rough sleepers . They will also have an opportunity to sign up to a national campaign and send letters to Federal and State government calling for an increase in crisis and transition housing as well as wrap-around supports and join local action on longer term affordable housing in our Shire.
My Home Network is auspiced by Dhelkaya Health and made up of passionate community members, locals with lived experience of the housing crisis, and representatives from local housing initiatives, community, and government organisations. You can read more about My Home Network at dhelkayahealth.org.au/my-home-network
For more information contact Kaz: cneilson@castlemainehealth.org.au
Photo: Dhelkaya Health Housing Team L-R Ebony, Mary, Brita & Di
