Geelong homelessness service Lazarus Community Centre sees record demand

A local man who has been rough sleeping for several years has shared his story as Geelong homelessness services face surging demand and the city battles an “acute” housing crisis.

Les at Lazarus Community Centre. Picture: Brad Fleet

Geelong homelessness services are facing surging demand as a “vicious” cycle prevents people from finding housing.

Lazarus Community Centre Geelong, which provides meals, hot showers, support and a sense of community for people facing homelessness, is seeing record demand.

In April last year, it had about 730 clients come through the door.

This year, that number was 1116 in April.

“It’s not just people sleeping rough on the streets, it’s also people sleeping in their cars, couch surfing, having to access emergency accommodation,” general manager Jade Hamilton said.

Ms Hamilton said the centre was “most definitely” seeing people experiencing homelessness for the first time, especially since Covid.

Client Les, centre, at Lazarus Community Centre with general manager Jade Hamilton, left, and board member Steph Davies. Picture: Brad Fleet

She described a “vicious cycle” where people may have experienced job loss and then found themselves facing rent arrears, and could find themselves “black-listed” when trying to find another private rental.

“It creates an extra added pressure on our social housing and public housing system,” she said.

Ms Hamilton said Lazarus Community Centre was one “very small piece” of a much larger, very multifaceted system.

“I think that the more that as a community, we can stick together and not work in silos, I think we will have more chance of being able to create some sustainable change,” she said.

Lazarus Community Centre is not government funded but receives support from local organisations and donations.

Council to Homeless Persons chief executive Deborah Di Natale said the housing crisis was statewide, but the problem in Geelong was particularly acute.

“Local services have told us that they are experiencing increased requests for groceries and help with bills from people who are falling behind as regional rents skyrocket,” she said.

“This, combined with incredibly low vacancy rates, is pushing people into homelessness across Victoria.”

Long-term Lazarus Community Centre clientLes has been sleeping rough for several years, and had previously lived above a Geelong pub.

The 57-year-old,who grew up in Apollo Bay, said he’d been sleeping under a Geelong hall for about 14 months.

“The owners of the building … they’re quite happy for me to be there,” he said.

“I know I can’t keep doing this forever … it’s something I’ve just got used to.”

Les, who has worked on boats and in a meatworks,said he planned to access a support agency that provided housing.

Homelessness Week begins on Monday, August 7, with the theme ‘It’s time to end homelessness’.

Council to Homeless Persons chief executive Deborah Di Natale.

Ms Di Natale said the state must build its way out of this crisis with at least 6000 public and community homes each year.

A state government spokesman said it had made significant investments to help address homelessness and boost the supply of social and affordable housing.

Since the start of the Big Housing Build in 2020, more than 7600 homes have been completed or are underway.

In Greater Geelong, more than $200m has been invested under the Big Housing Build and other social housing programs, with 313 new homes completed and a further 234 under construction.

“Ahead of the Housing Statement to be released later this year – and in addition to our Big Housing Build – we’ll provide a new $1bn Regional Housing Fund to deliver more than 1300 new homes across regional Victoria,” he said.

“The new homes will include a mix of social and affordable housing, and we’ll work with councils, regional partnerships and local communities to determine the right mix of stock and locations for each region.”

The $1bn package was announced following the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games.

“The Victorian Government will invest more than $300m annually to support those experiencing homelessness through a range of specialist services and programs throughout the 2023-24 financial year,” the spokesman said.

Lazarus Community Centre, Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, and Neami National will share stories and pitch solutions for a fairer future for people experiencing homelessness at a live crowd-funding event on Thursday evening.

Tickets to Give Where You Live Foundation’s Pitch Up Geelong ‘addressing homelessness’ event have been exhausted but people can attend virtually.

For more information visit: pitch-up-geelong-2023.raisely.com

Originally published as Geelong homelessness service Lazarus Community Centre sees record demand