In the days before the coronavirus shutdown took effect, a massive operation was underway in Australia's capital cities — to get more than 7,000 homeless people off the streets and into rooms in hotels, motels and empty student accommodation.
In South Australia, Neami National is placing around six people a day — well above its usual rate of around 11 a month. "We've got 1,000 people off the streets because we know that was the right thing to do," said Brownyn Pike, a former Victorian Minister for Housing and current CEO of Uniting Vic-Tas."There is plenty of student accommodation that is available.
They also manage to hang on to their belongings — something 19-year-old Raevyn says is impossible on the street.
This initiative needs to be kept going. Surely if the govt can find the funds to reward wealthy home owners with renovation grants they can inject funds into continued housing for the most vulnerable in the community!
Don't worry, we'll have forgotten about them all again by the end of winter.