On 26 June in North Carlton, a cold Sunday afternoon, around 40 people gathered at the Railway Neighbourhood House to discuss the future of public housing. Most present were public housing tenants, some were current or ex housing workers. Stephen Jolly of Yarra Council made a brief appearance.
Of immediate concern is the plan by the State government to hand over title to 475 million dollars worth of housing stock to the "housing associations". This plan was inherited from the previous Brumby government but has been little publicized. The housing associations generally take the form of non-profit private companies set up by charities. The government refers to them as "social housing" as distinct from public housing; they are also to be distinguished from co-operatives.
The meeting heard concerns that the housing associations charge higher rents, even when rent assistance is taken into account, and that they cherry pick tenants. The replacement of public housing by housing associations was nearly unanimously seen as threat to the welfare of public housing tenants. Cr Jolly spoke to the effect that a campaign to look at the "big picture" of public housing was a good thing, and overdue, but that the bread-and-butter immediate issues facing tenants should not be overlooked Although no votes were taken or motions passed speakers generally supported the view that public housing should be supported as a social good, and that a campaign should be launched to expand its scope.
A follow up meeting was called for July 3rd to begin the practical planning of such a campaign.