Politics

Here’s How You Can Help Those Stuck In Victoria’s Public Housing Towers

by Rachael Conaghan  7 July 2020
public housing meals

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There are 3,000 people in Melbourne’s locked down public housing buildings who are not allowed to leave their apartments for any reason. With no warning of the impending lockdown before police arrived at their doors, many were caught unprepared.

The Victorian government has offered support — on Sunday over 3,000 meals, 500 packs of essential items, and more than 400 kids’ activity boxes were delivered.

But those inside the towers say this support has been severely underwhelming, to say the least.

There’s been reports of residents being given culturally inappropriate food they cannot eat, expired groceries being delivered, essential items like bread and milk being forgotten, and deliveries taking hours to arrive.

Today a coalition called Voices from the Blocks issued a number of demands on behalf of residents, family members and community.

“Voices from the Blocks watched in horror last night as food, medicine, and essentials like nappies and baby formula were suddenly confiscated by authorised officers. This was after more than 48 hours of needing these essential items, and having to rely on grassroots, community lead efforts,” a statement said.

“Hundreds of community members have been left to plug in the gap left by the Andrews Government’s punitive response and mismanagement.

“The community of the North Melbourne, Flemington and Kensington estates have shown up over the last 3 days offering translations when there were no interpreters, culturally appropriate food, and much needed medicine.”

Residents of some buildings have also detailed how during the pandemic hand sanitiser was placed only on the ground flood, and quickly ran out.

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Victoria's Public Housing Tenants Have Reportedly Been Given Expired Food While In Lockdown

That’s combined with a lack of information provided in other languages — with a large migrant population living in the towers, this has been the cause of a lot of extra stress.

But there are groups who have stepped in to fill the gaping hole in services, and there are ways you can help them.

People across the country have already rallied together to help raise money, donate essentials and offer other assistance so that organisations can provide targeted support.

Food

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre has been delivering culturally-specific hot meals for tower residents that are halal, and vegetarian or vegan.

Foodbank Victoria is distributing food and emergency relief. They’re not currently accepting food donations due to social distancing regulations, but are welcoming any financial donations.

Sikh Volunteers Australia has been cooking hundreds of vegetarian meals with the help of donations of food and money from the community.

The Moving Feast collective have been delivering halal meals and fresh food boxes to residents in the towers. They’re asking for donations to provide more relief.

The Moroccan Soup Bar in Fitzroy is also working with authorities to provide meals, and the restaurant is welcoming donations and volunteers.

Essentials

The National Homeless Collective delivered around 140 tins of baby formula, hundreds of nappies and more than 100 packs of sanitary products yesterday. They’re collecting donations through their Melbourne Period Project.

The Australian Muslim Social Services Agency (AMSSA), which is based near one of the towers, is accepting donations. PPE equipment, uncooked food, baby products, basic medication, toilet paper and sanitary products are being collected for public housing tenants. They’re also looking for volunteers to help move food packets from their base in North Melbourne to the towers, and to help distribute them to residents inside.

South East Mutual Aid is a grassroots community organisation working to bring supplies to residents in the Flemington block of flats. They’re asking for financial support, but referring any material donations to AMSSA.

The Victorian Trades Hall Council held a fundraiser which raised more than $280,000 in just two days, but that campaign has now been closed. They’ve since announced that 100 percent of the funds raised will be given to residents, in consultation with residents, community services and the government.

Residents Issue Demands

Today a coalition of residents, family members and community members from the North Melbourne, Flemington and Kensington public housing estates issued demands of the state government.

Voices from the Blocks called out the “dysfunction” of the state government response.

They also said there has been minimal presence of Department of Health and Human Services officials on the ground and no access to regular health care workers residents usually rely on.

“Voices from the Blocks know that there needs to be trust between the people and relevant authorities for health initiatives to be effective. You cannot build trust by deploying 500 police officers inside people’s homes and criminalising them,” a statement said.

“A public health response should include health workers and relevant services that already work with and understand the community.”

Voices from the Block have five demands, which include for all public housing estates to be placed under the same Stage 3 restrictions as their neighbours; for police to be removed; and for infection prevention measures like disinfection and mask distribution.

They’re also asking for COVID-19 testing sites to move from the building foyers to another location within walking distance to prevent the risk of spreading the virus, and for the government to coordinate services to respond to resident’s food, medical, financial, social service and mental health needs.

Feature Image: Twitter/ @a_kanjere