WELFARE services say it is “time to act” on homelessness, with the Peninsula Voice adding its views with a report “Working together on the homelessness crisis on the Mornington Peninsula”.
Peninsula Voice president Peter Orton said the community had “watched the growing homelessness crisis on the Mornington Peninsula damage lives”.
“It’s a complex issue, so it’s vital that our community understands the drivers behind this crisis and how broadly it impacts us, so we can work together on local solutions,” he said.
Orton said that to support the issued, Peninsula Voice had held three events aimed at taking a “deeper dive” into the factors contributing to a lack of affordable housing.
He said members of the community, leaders in the social housing and community care sector, local government representatives and those with lived experience, worked together to unpack the key issues.
“These include the impact of the short-term rental market, the rapid increase in property values, the impact of planning policies and the political landscape required to make meaningful and long-term change,” he said.
Orton said the final event in May drew together community leaders and those working in the sector to develop some “big ideas” to drive sustainable change.
CEO of Mornington Community Support Service Ben Smith said welfare groups had identified some “innovative” approaches working elsewhere and work being done locally by charities, churches, volunteers and our three community support centres.
Smith said he was aware of the stress on those working in the sector.
“There’s some incredibly passionate, hardworking volunteers and staff going above and beyond to help the most vulnerable in our community, but we’re exhausted and under-resourced, so more support is urgently needed,” he said.
“Since Peninsula Voice held the first event on homelessness in 2022, this issue has received wide media coverage and political comment. Now it’s time to act – to use all the options available to us, and end homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula”.
First published in the Mornington News – 5 September 2023
