WALKERS will take on a six-hour journey to highlight the needs of the homeless.
Helen’s Haven co-founder Helen Youngberry said that on September 29, the group would leave from Goodna Street Life on Smiths Rd and make their way through the suburbs of Darra, Oxley, St Lucia and on to their destination of Musgrave Park at South Brisbane.
Along the way, they hope to welcome more members to join in on the walk.
“Along the way we are also looking at gaining signatures and awareness of homeless and the needs they all have,” Ms Youngberry said.
“We are inviting the Premier and the Housing Minister to take part and be a part of the journey.
“We are looking for people to walk with us and be a part of what we are trying to achieve here.”
A statement from the State Government advises the Local Ipswich News that it is committed to more social housing to help reduce the numbers of homeless or displaced residents and ease the pressure on them.
“The Miles Labor Government’s Homes for Queenslanders plan includes a commitment to the greater Ipswich community of $30.2 million in this year’s Budget to expand and improve social housing,” State Member for Bundamba Lance McCallum said.
Ipswich Lockyer Valley Greens spokesperson Dani Mutton said the need for housing was at breaking point, with the current wait list for social housing surpassing 45,000.
“It’s shameful that a city the size of Ipswich doesn’t have a homeless shelter,” she said.
“The Queensland Greens announced their plan during the week to clear the social housing waiting list within four years by rapidly expanding QBuild.
“This expanded workforce would be used to urgently build 25,000 public homes to clear the social housing wait list within four years.”
Greens candidate for Ipswich West Mark Delaney said the major parties had let social housing numbers decline, and in a growing city like Ipswich, the impact was clear to see.
“Median rents in the Ipswich region have gone up by 46 per cent since June 2021, from $350 to $510 a week. That’s a staggering $8000 per year,” Mr Delaney said.
“The Queensland Greens’ housing and public developer policies are a real game-changer for everyday people who find themselves locked out of the housing market or stuck on the social housing wait list.”
Ms Youngberry said the Government continued to miss the point and that was why the walk was being organised – to walk in the shoes of the homeless and less fortunate.
“The homeless have issues beyond housing that need addressing,” she said.
“They will never build enough social housing and that’s the problem with this government, they say they listen, but they don’t hear them and their needs.”
If you are interested in being a part of the walk, contact Goodna Street Life on [email protected].
