An estimated 120 people filed into Castlemaine Town Hall last Wednesday night as the My Home Network launched of a 10-Year Social and Affordable Housing Strategy.
The network that’s facilitated and coordinated by Central Victoria Prevention and Public Health, Bendigo Health, has developed its strategy over 12 months, working with community and government organisations, community members with lived experience of homelessness and housing crisis and Mount Alexander Shire Council
The strategy sets out strategic objectives and priorities and targets toward creating affordable housing delivery and reform.
Commissioner for Residential Tenancies Dr Heather Holst was MC for the evening, supported by My Home Network coordinator Carolyn Neilson of Bendigo Health.
The crowd heard about local lived experience of housing crisis and the benefits of long term rental and Carolyn Neilson explained the 10 year social and affordable strategy.
Castlemaine resident Jo Middleton and her son Ned Middleton shared their positive experience of Home Share for which the My Home Network are seeking funding to develop the first rural model in Australia.
Home Share is an internationally recognised scheme for formally pairing householders, who could benefit from help in the home and companionship, with individuals who are prepared to give practical assistance in return for free accommodation.
Annika Kearton spoke of the Castlemaine Institute Retro-fitting Neighbourhoods project and the crowd also heard from Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Housing Solutions Broker, Clare Richards.
Ms Neilson invited the crowd to sign up to one of the many working groups the network has created to “take all the great ideas and turn them into real actions” and received an enthusiastic response.
“The people gathered clearly understood that affordable, safe and secure housing is a basic human right,” Ms Neilson said..
“They also appreciated the complexity of the housing crisis in our shire and how it requires a multi-faceted, integrated approach with all relevant stakeholders and community working together.
“And they put their hands up to work together to give more people a place to call home. It’s a long road but we are on our way.”
“People can join any of the working groups according to their particular area of interest, expertise or passion.
“The working groups are a great opportunity to work alongside other community members towards a shared goal.”