In the lead-up to Homelessness Week 2024 (5-11 August), Neami supported the Victorian Homelessness Network’s (VHN) Houses at Parliament campaign.
The campaign raised awareness about the urgent need for additional social housing across the state.
Victorian homelessness and community organisations folded a combined total of over 60,000 origami houses.
These represent the 60,000 households currently on the state’s social housing waiting list.
On 31 July, 6,000 of these houses were displayed on the steps of Parliament House, as the VHN called on state and federal governments to:
- build at least 60,000 additional, appropriate social homes to meet the current need in Victoria, and
- implement the 10-year National Housing and Homelessness Plan, with a commitment to end homelessness.
Staff from Neami’s head office, local service teams and young people from Neami’s Moorabbin Youth Residential Recovery Service (YRRS) came together for an origami morning tea in support of the campaign.
Our combined efforts resulted in a combined tally of 550 houses.
Ryan Campbell, Community Rehabilitation and Support Worker at Moorabbin YRRS, said: “When the Houses at Parliament campaign was mentioned to our Moorabbin YRR cohort, there was immediate interest in getting involved.
“Most of our young people face housing insecurity of varying degrees when moving on from the residential service, so the lack of affordable housing is an issue they are acutely aware of – and often quite anxious about.”
Susan Taylor, Senior Manager Operations – Safety and Homelessness, said support of the morning tea and broader campaign was important.
Susan said: “It was great to see such strong support for the Houses at Parliament campaign.
“Neami fully supports and wants to help raise awareness that, as a community, we can end homelessness by building more homes across Victoria.
“It shows how passionate our Neami teams, and organisations across the sector, are about addressing the housing crisis and ensuring no one in our communities is without a home.”
Houses from Neami’s origami morning tea will be on display at Neami’s Head Office throughout Homelessness Week.