Homelessness Week: Houses at the Lake

More than 6,000 origami houses lined the shores of Lake Wendouree, for the Houses at the Lake Event as part of Homelessness Week. Each house represented a person experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

There are 60,000 homes needed in Victoria to meet the current need. It's a number that's difficult to comprehend. But behind every one of those houses is a story. A child. A parent. A young person. An older person. A neighbour. Someone who deserves the safety and dignity of a place to call home.

Thank you to everyone who joined us today despite the winter weather, and to those who folded houses, shared their stories, spoke at the event, and helped bring this powerful display to life. Today wasn't about statistics alone. It was about people.

Homelessness is not inevitable, and it is not someone else's problem. It is a challenge we can only solve by working together as community members, services, governments, businesses and individuals.

If today's display caused you to pause, reflect, or see homelessness differently, then it has done exactly what it was intended to do. Because awareness is only the beginning. Real change happens when awareness becomes understanding, understanding becomes compassion, and compassion becomes action. Thank you for standing with us.

Together, we can build a community where everyone has a safe place to call home.

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Thank to Councillor Des Hudson for joining us and sharing your insights.

Also thank you to Juliana Addison MP for sharing your thoughts with us.

Thank you to the live music performers who generously offered their talents to the day.

Thank you to students from Loretto College for helping us to put the houses on display. And thank you to the dedicated workers of the homelessness agencies who continue to provide support, care and kindness to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Thank you for caring.

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