A FREE community expo during Anti-Poverty Week (14-20 October) offers “support and hope to anyone experiencing hardship”.
The expo will raise awareness and address issues around housing affordability and homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula.
Mornington Peninsula Housing Network is holding several activities during the week and is encouraging community groups and service organisations to help highlight the issues surrounding poverty and hardship.
The expo will enable those on low incomes and Centrelink payments to learn more about services that can easily and affordably be accessed.
It will offer giveaways, information and low cost products, including food, dental health checks, haircuts, housing services, legal services, eye testing, pet care, podiatry checks, rent-in-arrears and advance information, youth services, entertainment and social activities and volunteering opportunities.
The expo will be attended by representatives from such service providers Salvocare Eastern, Peninsula Health and Bolton Clarke, as well as volunteer organisations.
The mayor Cr Bryan Payne said everyone was welcome to attend whether it was to join campaigns for a better housing system, receive support or offer services to those in need.
“We know that at any given time, members of our community may be struggling to pay their rent or find an affordable home,” he said.
“Council has an important role in managing the demand for housing and population growth on the peninsula and to provide assistance to those most vulnerable in a way that recognises our special values.
“This action on the ground is a crucial element of supporting our community and complements the strategic work of council, such as the Housing and Settlement Strategy.”
The strategy was adopted in December 2017 and outlines council’s direction for housing and population growth over the next 15 years. A key element is to support proposals by the state government to provide more social housing and address housing affordability issues.
The shire’s Triple A Housing Committee chair Cr Simon Brooks said the expo would offer an array of health and wellbeing goods and services for those who might not normally be able to afford them.
“We are the voice of the peninsula and are determined to improve social and affordable housing options while continuing to offer support to those in need in our community,” he said.
The shire recently joined forces with service providers to deliver Youth2, a campaign addressing youth homelessness and advocating for crisis accommodation in Rosebud and Frankston.
The Fair Deal Housing and Wellbeing Expo is at Rosebud Memorial Hall, 994 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud, 11am-2pm, Wednesday 17 October.
Details: mornpen.vic.gov.au/housing
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 18 September 2018
