Greens call on Minister to explain why homeless people are being evicted from the CBD
Ellen Sandell
State MP for Melbourne
30 January 2017
The Victorian Greens have expressed deep concern at reports that people sleeping rough at Flinders Street Station are being moved on by police, with reports surfacing of several arrests and several mentally unwell women being targeted.
"We've heard disturbing reports that police are attempting to forcefully remove homeless people in the CBD without the Government providing any mental health or housing support. If these reports are true, the Minister must explain what is going on" said Greens housing spokesperson Ellen Sandell MP.
"It's clear that simply moving people somewhere else doesn't work, because there is nowhere else for them to go.
Over 100 people are turned away from crisis accommodation every night and there are 32,000 people on the public housing waiting list - this is why people are sleeping rough on the streets" said Ms Sandell.
Labor had previously promised to release an affordable housing strategy and a policy trial where a share of homes in some new developments would be made available to people on low incomes. Both of these promises have not been delivered.
"Instead of fixing the root causes of homelessness Labor sits on its hands. They've promised only 30 'transitional' housing places, while there are over 200 people sleeping rough on the streets and 32,000 people languising on public housing waiting lists.
Their solutions are just paying lip service rather than dealing with the problem" said Ms Sandell.
Ellen Sandell
State MP for Melbourne
30 January 2017