A vigil will be held in Castlemaine this Friday to honour those in the community who are homeless.
The vigil is intended to further galvanise the community on action happening locally around homelessness and to call on government to do more to address the housing crisis.
Homelessness Week (August 4-11) is an annual national event raising awareness of homelessness and its impacts, and drawing attention to the broader and deeper systemic changes needed to address it.
Homelessness Week is coordinated by Homelessness Australia. This local vigil is being coordinated by My Home Network and Dhelkaya Health’s housing team.
According to Dhelkaya Health senior housing team worker, Michael McMahon, on any given night there are 78 community members homeless in Mount Alexander Shire, tens of people sleeping rough and more than 250 families seeking support for crisis housing.
There is a shortfall of about 600 social housing units and far more crisis and transition housing is required to meet current demand.
Mr McMahon said homelessness and the risk of homelessness could profoundly affect a person’s mental and physical health, education, employment opportunities, connection to community and their ability to fully participate in society.
“Everyone has a right to affordable, secure, safe, appropriate, sustainable housing,” he said.
Community members are invited to attend the vigil outside the Castlemaine Market Building on Friday August 9 at 4pm. Attendees will hear about the housing supports and action happening locally, including the Rough Sleeper Action Group, the Help at Hand flyer and find out how to donate to local supports for rough sleepers.
Vigil attendees will also have an opportunity to sign a national petition and send letters to federal and state governments calling for an increase in crisis, transition housing and wrap-around supports, as well as join local action on longer-term affordable housing in the shire.
For more information, contact Kaz Neilson on email cneilson@castlemainehealth.org.au
