Wednesday, 14 May 2025

Homelessness

Will FOWLES (Ringwood) (09:56): I rise today to highlight some home truths for the government. Right now across Victoria we are facing a devastating and unacceptable homelessness crisis, and it is only getting worse. The Maroondah Winter Shelter, a volunteer-run program, provides a warm meal, shelter and a shower for homeless men in the eastern suburbs. Recently I met with Gitta Clayton, one of the program’s coordinators, and was deeply moved by the dedication of all the volunteers involved. Their efforts are truly magnificent, but it is a travesty that they have to do it at all. Every night these homeless men must carry the weight of uncertainty, packing up their belongings and moving to a new shelter just to secure a place to sleep. This is a burden no-one should have to endure.

It is unacceptable that in a prosperous state like Victoria volunteers must fill the gap in a system that has comprehensively failed to provide permanent solutions. Crisis accommodation is severely lacking, and cases of homelessness continue to grow. Government resourcing is a disgrace. Programs like the Winter Shelter reflect the compassion of my community, but they are a temporary fix, not a long-term solution. This government must take responsibility and ensure that every Victorian has access to safe, secure accommodation when they need it most. The government must stop hiding behind volunteers and take responsibility. It is a public problem and it needs a public solution. It is time to provide permanent solutions to the housing crisis. We need real leadership now. Housing must come first.