Empathy please

I can’t begin to convey how incredibly disappointed I am in the residents of Wonthaggi North who are ‘up in arms’ about a proposed social housing block in their area.

Housing has been a public, critical problem for Bass Coast Shire for some time, with the crisis only growing over the last few years. Homelessness support services have had an unprecedented caseload, with many elderly residents and young families bearing the brunt of the rental shortage.

The perception of social housing tenants that the spokesperson so clearly agrees with - that social housing would impact their ‘peaceful’ neighbourhood - is the sort of rhetoric that implies that those who are working to escape homelessness are unruly or disruptive, rather than the vast majority of tenants who are just trying their hardest to find stability and safety for themselves and their families.

The quote: ‘Everybody needs a place to live, that’s fine, but we’ve got our fair share of community housing’ says everything it needs to: ‘Sure, people need houses, but why should my life be very slightly inconvenienced to provide that?’

I hope these residents are able to reflect on their position (and the privilege they have to be secure in their homes) and come to a more empathic stance; one that sees all members of our communities as equally worthy of safety, respect and security, regardless of their real estate status.

Imogen, Walkerville.