Wednesday, 14 August 2024

 Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (09:57): Last week was Homelessness Week, a time to acknowledge the struggles of some of the most marginalised members of our community. We began the week right here on the steps of Parliament with a powerful display of origami houses, which filled the steps and highlighted that there are 60,000 households in the Victorian community in need of social housing support. But I did not stop there. I also visited St Mary’s House of Welcome with the Minister for Housing Harriet Shing, where we got to see firsthand the services they provide: warm meals, warm showers and even warmer company. Seeing the dedication of the St Mary’s team and the way they care for every single person that comes through the door was just heartwarming. One of the regular visitors to St Mary’s took the opportunity to show me the immaculate garden that he had created in the outside area of the house of welcome. He clearly has a green thumb and a passion for plants. He has cultivated some of the most gorgeous shrubs and flowers I have ever seen, and his pride in showing me was even bigger. He had made a beautiful addition to St Mary’s and a powerful impression on me. I look forward to visiting again to see the team continuing their amazing work with the wonderful people who access their services, and I hope to get another update on the garden when I am there.