Action group to highlight homelessness outside Gatwick

A coalition of community sector workers will hold an “action” outside The Gatwick this afternoon, to highlight problems surrounding homelessness.

Timed for the day of launch for  The Block, it follows St Kilda Community Housing relocating former residents of the former boarding house after it was sold to Nine.

Some former Gatwick residents had returned to the area either because they couldn’t afford their new housing or because homelessness services are concentrated in St Kilda.

Homelessness support worker Donna told Fairfax, “Eight people who used to live in the Gatwick now sleep in the 7-Eleven opposite where they used to live.” Keith, who lives in a tent next to Luna Park, said there were more people sleeping rough in St Kilda since the Gatwick closed.

Victorian Housing Minister Martin Foley recently announced 28 residents at St. Kilda’s Regal rooming house would be rehoused, with the government spending $6 million to convert the building into accommodation for older disadvantaged women. It followed Kate Langbroek speaking out about a “crazed, violent and terrifying attack” at her family’s St Kilda home in March.

SWAG, which stands for Support Workers Action Group, is calling on the Vic. State Government to end the “round them up, move them on mentality”.