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Wednesday 16 August 2023
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CEO of Southern Peninsula Community Support Jeremy Maxwell, top right, speaks at a rally following a street walk at Rosebud to end homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula. Pictures: Yanni
Taking to the streets to help homeless Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au WELFARE services, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and residents took to the streets of Rosebud on Friday for a walk and rally to call for an end to homelessness on the peninsula. The walk came as the peninsula’s only crisis accommodation looks set to close. The event was a collaboration
between Fusion Mornington Peninsula, Mornington Community Support Centre, Western Port Community Support, Southern Peninsula Community Support and the shire. The walk started at 4pm at Rosebud pier and went along Pt Nepean Road and past Memorial Hall, to finally gather for a rally at the sound shell, where there was a welcome to country and speakers. The event finished around 6pm.
Southern Peninsula Community Support CEO Jeremy Maxwell said the walk was an important way to raise awareness of homelessness. He said at least 1000 people in the community were experiencing homelessness, but if areas close to Frankston were included the number would “probably double”. “In the recent census the shire moved from sixth worse area to the fourth worse area for rough sleeping
in Victoria,” he said. “This is not a race we want to win.” Maxwell said there was only one crisis accommodation centre on the peninsula, The Ranch Motel, Mornington, which was jointly operated by Mornington Community Support Centre and Southern Peninsula Community Support and used by several agencies. It’s operations were financed through donations, but it would close because the owners were redeveloping.
It is estimated that at least 16 per cent of the peninsula’s homeless are rough sleeping every night, many on the foreshore. More than 4000 residents are on public housing waiting lists, but there are just over 1400 social housing properties. Maxwell said government initiatives include 34 new public housing properties, with about half being at the construction phase. Continued Page 8
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