How the community can work together to address Mount Alexander Shire\u2019s housing crisis is the focus of a new 10-year social and affordable housing strategy to be launched at Castlemaine Town Hall next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My Home Network developed the Mount Alexander Shire My Home Network 10-year social and affordable housing strategy in collaboration with a range of local and specialist stakeholders and in consultation with Mount Alexander Shire Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCastlemaine Health recognises the impact of housing stress on our community, and we are proud to support and participate in the work of the My Home Network, working collaboratively with local services, government, housing specialists, community and people with lived experience of homelessness and housing stress,\u201d said Castlemaine Health CEO, Sue Race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone is invited along to the launch, which will feature a range of MHN speakers on local housing solutions, and importantly, community members will have the opportunity to sign up to one of MHN\u2019s working groups to be part of the housing solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Mount Alexander Shire community has a strong culture of citizen engagement \u2013 in fact the highest in Victoria \u2013 and a passion for social change on issues that impact people in a vulnerable state in their community,\u201d said My Home Network coordinator, Carolyn Neilson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have the land, resources, expertise, experience, compassion and political leadership needed to address the current housing crisis and to create real, lasting change.\u201d
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Ms Neilson said the strategy aimed to achieve an ambitious yet balanced approach to increasing affordable housing across the shire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur housing crisis is a complex but resolvable social and economic issue, that is not just about a house but a home and community members\u2019 place in and connection to community,\u201d she said.
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\u201cThis is about the local community coming together to create housing solutions for local people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt requires ambitious, bold decisions and an ongoing commitment to housing equity.\u201d
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According to Ms Neilson, on any given night 64 community members are homeless in Mount Alexander Shire, 220 families are seeking support for housing crisis, there is a shortfall of around 100 diverse, safe and affordable rental homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Our shire needs at least around 590 social housing units and far more crisis and transition housing to meet current demand. Currently there is only one motel room for crisis housing,” Ms Neilson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My Home Network is a collaboration of community and government organisations, community members and lived experience of homelessness formed in response to increasing concerns about the lack of affordable, safe, secure, sustainable and appropriate housing in Mount Alexander Shire. It is coordinated by Central Victorian Prevention and Population Health of Bendigo Health.
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The launch will be held from 7pm-9pm, Wednesday June 29, at the Castlemaine Town Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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