Darebin councillors suggest opening gyms, pools to homeless

A northern suburbs council is leading a push giving homeless people access to sporting centres, pools and hall facilities to “freshen up” when they need to.

Around 1500 people experience homelessness in Darebin every night.

Town halls and swimming pools could be opened up to homeless people to use them as emergency shelters or to “freshen up”.

Darebin councillors have agreed to agreed to look into extending these existing council services and facilities to help the homeless.

The motion, proposed by councillor Julie Williams, came after a report into homelessness was tabled at last night’s council meeting.

RELATED

CAR PARK TO BECOME COMMUNITY HOUSING

HOMELESS SERVICES STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP

AFFORDABLE RENTALS HIT ‘CRISIS’ LEVELS

Cr Williams said the council needed to do more to help the homeless sleeping on the streets.

“Council can look at temporary housing and open our … buildings like our halls to give shelter,” she said.

“We can open our council buildings, sporting facilities and swimming centres for an extra hour to allow homeless people to freshen up.”

The council report estimated 1500 people were experiencing homelessness on any given night in Darebin alone.

This included 200 people couch surfing, up to 300 people in rooming houses and 80 people sleeping rough.

The council will also make a submission to the Royal Commission into Mental Health.

Other decisions from last night’s meeting included:

• A decision to increase the council grants program by $110,361 for the 2018-19 financial year;
• The adoption of a strategy to plan public art around cultural values and contribution to inclusion and environmental sustainability;
• The sale of land at the rear of 28K Hughes Parade, Reservoir and 15A Nocton St, Reservoir to private residents; and
• And the appointment of internal auditors HLB Man Judd advisory and accounting to investigate the efficiency of the council’s processes. The $850,476 contract will be for three years with two, one year extensions.

@richardapearce

MORE NEWS:

CALLS FOR CROSSING NIGHTMARE TO END

TRAIN LINE CLOSURES A HEADACHE FOR COMMUTERS

POLICE BELIEVE 26-YEAR-OLD KILLED FOR BEING PREGNANT