THE Southern Women’s Action Network (SWAN) meeting on Sunday (16 July) will feature speakers on the topic Homelessness on the Peninsula; the hidden epidemic.
All women are invited to attend and there is no need to book. SWAN meets at Mount Martha House starting with morning tea at 9.30am with the meeting starting at 10am.
Speakers will be Belinda Rodman and Kara Van der Heyde from Southern Peninsula Community Support, are at the coalface of this issue.
Mornington Peninsula Shire was this week set to consider asking the state government to amend planning laws so councils can approve secondary dwellings.
A notice of motion from Cr Sarah Race for consideration at Tuesday’s (11 July) public meeting suggested including provisions to make sure secondary dwellings could not be used for short stay accommodation.
Concerns about housing shortages have seen Mount Alexander Shire allow residents to camp or park a caravan or tiny home on wheels on certain properties without a permit.
The property must have an existing house already on it, and the arrangement can only be temporary.
Mount Alexander shire, like Mornington Peninsula, has seen an increase in homelessness and rough sleeping.
Around 1000 people are estimated to be homeless every night on the peninsula, largely due to the increase in cost of living, high rents and the large number of properties only available for short-term rental.
First published in the Mornington News – 11th July 2023
