Council seeks meeting with Lord Mayor over homelessness

Published on 02 March 2017

Monash Council is seeking a meeting with Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle to discuss an increase in homeless people in Monash.

Reports of people sleeping rough in Monash have increased since last December, with Council staff trying to assist about 13 people sleeping rough in the past two months.

Monash Mayor Rebecca Paterson said Council wanted to discuss with the Lord Mayor the unintended impacts of the City of Melbourne’s decision to move on rough sleepers.

“We are very concerned that pushing people out of the centre of Melbourne is pushing people away from the support services that are there to help them,” Cr Paterson said.

“Rough sleepers who arrive in Monash from other areas including the CBD face significant challenges and so does Council in providing support to them,” she said.

“Their last residential address determines the location where they can get support so if they last lived in a residential address in St Kilda, they have to access services there.

“Homelessness is a very complex issue and sometimes those sleeping rough are also battling issues of mental health, drug and alcohol use.

“We are providing the support we can and we are committed to helping people who are homeless but if we see an large increase in people sleeping rough, it will put a strain on our resources.”

Cr Paterson said Monash Council would also advocate for outreach services to be set up in Monash to support those sleeping rough.

Media Contact: Jo Robertson 0418 391 979 or email Joanne.Robertson@monash.vic.gov.au