Help for homeless

By Callan Date
CASEY will have its own halfway house for homeless people if Four Oaks Ward councillor Paul Richardson gets his way.
Cr Richardson convinced council to take its first tentative step towards helping Casey’s homeless at Tuesday’s council meeting, with officers set to prepare a report on the costs involved in holding a Casey homeless forum.
The planned meeting is set to feature recognised State and Federal MPs. Other community organisations, relevant housing bodies and local community members will also be invited.
Youth outreach worker and prominent homelessness advocate Les Twentyman has backed Cr Richardson’s intentions.
“I would certainly be interested in coming out and talking about what has become a serious issue,” Mr Twentyman said.
Cr Richardson said homelessness was a major problem in Casey and neighbouring Greater Dandenong.
He said there was an estimated 36,000 people living on streets throughout Melbourne, with some of these people sleeping in cardboard boxes and reserves throughout Casey.
“The homeless situation is not going to go away. Every council needs to sit up and take notice of this issue,” Cr Richardson said.
He said an ideal date for the forum would be during Housing Week, an annual celebration of public and community housing, in September.
“I have sent 19 letters to State and Federal politicians,” he said.
He said the feedback from MPs and other council officials had been encouraging, with Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan and Victorian Senator Mitch Fifield just two of the many who had responded.
Springfield Ward councillor Michael Farley said he knew of three homeless people in his ward.
“His (Cr Richardson) heart is in the right place. But I don’t think it is a council responsibility,” Cr Farley said.
“I’m not totally opposed to the issue. I’d like to see a lot more information.”
Mr Twentyman said homelessness had fallen off the radar at both State and Federal Government level and he intended to get the issue back in the headlines.
“From what the welfare agencies are telling me homelessness seems to be really escalating,” he said.