Despite being a huge social issue, housing barely rated a mention during the federal election. With the Victorian State election looming, it is crucial that more is done to protect and to win back our housing rights. The campaign to end the public housing crisis being waged by the group "The City is Ours" is stepping up. A Public meeting is being held at 6:30pm Thursday 14th October, at Trades Hall in Carlton and a public rally has been called for November the 12th at Housing Minister Richard Wynne’s electoral office at 112 Smith St, Collingwood from 4.30pm.
At the forum on Thursday October 14, come and hear first-hand how the lack of affordable and appropriate housing in Melbourne is affecting people’s lives as well as the ways in which these urgent problems can be solved. The event will include:
LES TWENTYMAN, OAM from the 20TH MAN FUND
STEPHANIE MENDIS from the HOTHAM MISSION ASYLUM SEEKERS PROJECT
A representative from the COUNCIL OF SINGLE MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN
Screening of THEIR VOICES, a documentary about homelessness by YOUTHWORX
All speakers will discuss how the housing crisis is hurting Victorians, outline the solutions that are urgently required and take questions from the audience. Housing Minister Richard Wynne has been invited, but has stated he will be unavailable.
Despite being a huge social issue, housing barely rated a mention during the federal election. With the Victorian State election looming, it is crucial that more is done to protect and to win back our housing rights. People from all walks of life are affected by the housing crisis. Sole parent families, youth, indigenous people, migrants, people exiting prison, and pensioners are some of the hardest hit, but 100 000s of Victorians are also struggling due to rental and mortgage stress. Over 58 000 people accessed homeless services in Melbourne during 2008-09, and for many people, homelessness is not temporary. For renters, the percentage of income spent on housing continues to sky-rocket.
In response, the state government has done little. Now that the election is looming they are rolling out a series of promises and announcements, but these either offer no definite solutions or half-hearted, band-aid ones. Since 1999 the ALP has failed to legislate against exorbitant rent increases or to restore the many tenants’ rights that the Kennett government took away. Their biggest recent promise has been to provide 5000 additional public housing places by 2012. Given their track record it is unclear whether they will achieve this. Even if they do, it cannot possibly meet the needs of the more than 41 000 people currently on the ever-growing public housing waiting list.
The Rooming House Taskforce is another example of the ALP’s insufficient response as whilst the body looks good on paper, it is a toothless tiger. It rarely prosecutes rogue operators and does not require limits on rents, or government acquisition of rooming houses that close. While some rooming houses operate well and do not rip people off, the lack of regulation means the sector remains largely exploitative. Landlords charge up to $300 a week for a room, many of which are substandard and only offer insecure, short term tenancy.
On Friday November 12 join us for a rally at Housing Minister Richard Wynne’s electoral office at 112 Smith St, Collingwood from 4.30pm to demand:
• Greatly expanded investment in public housing
• Legislation to limit rent increases
• An end to illegal evictions
• An improvement in standards for rooming houses & the prosecution of rogue operators
• Increased funding for housing cooperatives
• Support for green housing
The City Is Ours is a community group taking action around the housing crisis. We work with homeless people, rooming house residents, public housing tenants, struggling renters and community organisations to collectively take action and seek real change on the issues we face. We meet regularly at Trades Hall. To get in touch, email
contact@melbournecio.org
Public meeting and rally endorsed by Community Radio 3CR, Communications Workers Union Victoria,
Friends of the Earth, Green Renters, Earthsharing, Socialist Party, Homeless Front, Socialist Alliance, 20th Man Fund, Freedom Socialist Party, Food Not Bombs, Fitzroy Legal Service.
