Geelong community gathers to highlight housing crisis

MORE than 5,500 households in Geelong are in need of social housing and local advocates are calling for urgent action.

The Real Deal Geelong Alliance will hold a vigil at the Norlane Community Centre on Friday, October 17, to mark World Homelessness Day (October 10).

The event will start at 5pm and feature personal stories from residents directly affected by the housing crisis. The alliance will also provide an update on its advocacy efforts at a local, state and federal government level.

Norlane Community Centre chief executive Esther Konings-Oakes said conditions were getting worse for the region’s most vulnerable residents.

“Many women and other vulnerable groups are in constant fear of homelessness due to financial insecurity and domestic violence,” she said.

“They are paying increasingly high rents in the private rental system for quite often substandard housing.

“Any one of us can quite suddenly be in need of social housing after a divorce, accident, medical incident or due to family violence.”

As part of the alliance’s efforts, several of its members last month appeared before a City of Greater Geelong submission review panel to urge councillors to prioritise social housing.

The city has proposed the sale of two council-owned sites, previously earmarked for social housing, in a bid to drive down its debt.

Vigil coordinator Orisi Qaranivalu reaffirmed the alliance’s opposition to the sales, and its desire to see the land put towards housing.

“We are pleased to see that the council is supporting our call for state-regulated mandatory inclusionary zoning to ensure enough social housing is built in new housing estates and that the city is calling for a state government social housing target and delivery timeline.

“But we need all governments to act now as the housing crisis is getting worse every day, especially for those on the lowest income.”

The vigil is open to everyone.

Norlane Community Centre is at 39a Rose Avenue in Norlane.