Oct 21 2024
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Community safety in our streets and homes
Community safety concerns are an important issue for some residents across the City of Port Phillip, with the most visible being episodes of anti-social behaviour we sometimes see in certain shopping streets and at some venues.
Unfortunately, calls for punitive responses or expensive surveillance ignore the good work that is already being done across Port Phillip to address some of the underlying issues. Plenty of eyes on the street, a well-cared for street and secure housing for homeless people are not just good social policy, they are crucial elements in reducing anti-social behaviour.
Port Phillip Zero – started in July 2019 – seeks to reduce the numbers of people experiencing rough sleeping by connecting with and getting to know each person, and adding them to the local ‘By Name List’ to enable a focused client-centred service response. Knowing everyone by name, understanding their needs and providing an integrated service response helps people find and sustain housing.
The project is led by the City of Port Phillip and Launch Housing with many partners including Sacred Heart Mission, Better Health Network, Alfred Health, The Salvation Army, Ngwala Willumbong, First Steps, St Kilda Community Housing, Housing First, Southport Housing, St Kilda Community Centre, Wintringham, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Housing Victoria, Victoria Police and the Southern Homelessness Services Network.
The aim is to ensure that the number of people entering and experiencing rough sleeping homelessness within a month is less than the average monthly placement rate into long-term housing. Once achieved it must be sustained and any future experiences of rough sleeping homelessness in Port Phillip are brief, rare and non-recurring.
A milestone will be the completion in July next year of 26 self-contained units and on-site support services for residents with complex needs who were previously sleeping rough in order to maintain their housing and to reconnect with their community. This particular project is supported by the Victorian Government, St Kilda Community Housing and the City of Port Phillip.
The City of Port Phillip has become the first Australian community to achieve a measurable reduction in street homelessness, or people sleeping rough — a key milestone on the path to reaching functional zero.
Investment in initiatives like Port Phillip Zero are far more strategic and effective than turning our local laws officers into de facto police or diverting rates to expensive CCTV installations.
Important local responses to family violence crime and associated needs for women experiencing violence are also occurring. A pilot partnership between Port Phillip Maternal and Child Health Services and Southside Justice, a free legal service for people on low incomes in the cities of Port Phillip, Stonnington and Bayside, is supporting women experiencing family violence with related legal problems.
Southside Justice are available one day a month at Bubup Nairm Family and Children’s Centre to provide women with free legal advice.
Imagine how much more our Council could achieve with robust funding of these kinds of community safety initiatives and services.
A good Council cares not just for the streets and laneways, the parks and roads but for all of us – the people of Port Phillip. Beware those who say a Council should only look after place but not the populace who live and work here. Are these the councillors you really want representing you?
