Tuesday, 12 August 2025

 Kim O’KEEFFE (Shepparton) (12:50): Last week was Homelessness Week and a grim reminder of the desperate need for housing. I attended a number of events run by the Salvation Army, and the message was the same: homelessness statistics are rising and we simply do not have enough housing. We are in a housing and homelessness crisis, and the Shepparton electorate has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the state. We have 1584 people on social housing waiting lists, and on any given night 436 people are without a permanent home. Over 60,000 people are homeless in this state, and the government are failing, with rising numbers. Celia Adams, CEO of Beyond Housing, has raised the distress of her staff having to say to someone, ‘The only solution we have is to provide you with a swag, a tent or a blanket and put you on a waiting list.’ Imagine being that person, having nowhere to live and nowhere to sleep on a cold winter’s night. That is the harsh reality for many. Everyone deserves to have a roof over their head and a place to call home.

We are seeing more and more people on the streets and sleeping rough. Mark, who I often see around town, is a young homeless man sleeping rough. He is gentle, quiet and lost in a failing system of both mental health and homelessness. He is just one of many. People are struggling to pay their rent and pay their bills and are struggling to put food on the table. Life is getting tougher each and every day, and more and more people are facing homelessness. Housing and homelessness have to be our priority. I want to thank the Salvation Army, Azem from People Supporting People and the many service providers who are doing all they can to help the homeless and the most vulnerable people in our community.