Plea for support

Uniting Wimmera homelessness program leader Belinda Gilpin is pleading for the State Government to extend a homelessness support package to regional Victoria.

Ms Gilpin said it was ‘disappointing’ to see regional Victoria overlooked on an issue that was leaving people sleeping rough or couch surfing, especially during winter.

The State Government has extended its homelessness support package to house people in hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic until April next year for people in Melbourne suburbs.

The $150-million extension means 2000 rough sleepers will have somewhere safe to ride out the rest of the pandemic, but the program will not extend to the regions.

“We must see a greater focus on homelessness in rural Victoria – we urgently need a bigger social housing safety net here in our area,” Ms Gilpin said.

“There is always a huge focus on the cities and the outer suburbs whereas rural Victoria is often dismissed.”

Ms Gilpin said the program would be a ‘major relief’ for Uniting Wimmera, which had already maxed out its own temporary or emergency housing options.

“We just have to say no because we have no housing available. It’s not good enough,” she said.

“If we were able to use accommodation like that in a motel or hotel setting, that would be 20 or 30 rooms they could use to help people get back on their feet and secure long-term housing.”

Ms Gilpin said COVID-19 was making it harder for people who were struggling to find somewhere to stay, even short-term.

“I have had clients who when left with no options will go back into the city to use their resources, but because of COVID-19 they can no longer do that,” she said.

She said homelessness was often a hidden issue in the Wimmera.

“It’s evident when you go into the city because you see it with your eyes, you see people on the street,” she said.

“It’s different here – we do have people sleeping rough, but it’s mainly people who are couch surfing. It’s not something people regularly see and relate to compared with the cities.”