Life without a house is a struggle every day
Vasileios has lived without a house; he explains why housing matters to him.
“Without a house, there wouldn’t be a familiar space that was mine where I could begin or end each day, and even worse, there would be nothing in between. There is no routine, stability, or sense of belonging without a home. Housing prevents having to live in constant uncertainty and fear. When you have a home, you have the confidence to build and establish meaningful relationships and connections with neighbours and your community. Survival without a home is an exhausting, ongoing struggle that affects one’s health and wellbeing.”
I have hopes and dreams too, just like you do
Maurya says it’s been hard for her to move forward without housing.
“Housing is a stable base from which you can move forward. It’s hard to move forward if you don’t have a place to live and grow. Everyone needs a base to connect with support services, community, and family – a home! We need to break down the stigma around homelessness. People have preconceived ideas about homelessness – we aren’t just faceless people on the street. We are people like everyone else – with hopes and dreams. Come down to the Pride Centre this week to learn what services and governments are doing to help and learn what you can do.”
The Victorian Homelessness Network’s
Houses at Parliament campaign: Calling for 60,000 houses
60,000 reasons to make a ‘house’ to end homelessness. You are urged to make a ‘house’ during Homelessness Week from August 4 to 10 to show community support for action to create more affordable housing.
Across Victoria, dozens of community groups are hosting origami house-making events to create 60,000 houses, symbolising their call for thousands more social housing homes in Victoria.
In St Kilda, the focus is on the Victorian Pride Centre, which is hosting an exhibition of tiny houses throughout the week. People from local agencies and those with lived experience will staff the exhibition from 12 to 2 PM each day, assisting visitors in making an origami house to add to the interactive exhibition and answering questions about homelessness.
The houses will be proudly displayed on the Pride Centre atrium staircase.
Staff will be at the exhibition Monday – Friday noon – 2 pm during Homelessness Week.
More info Houses At Parliament campaign and events
