"Our state needs to cure this disease of homelessness, which can affect any one of us or our family," Bega MP Dr Michael Holland said in his inaugural address to NSW Parliament.
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However, the newly elected MP said the NSW State Labor Party had not yet formed a policy on how to solve the housing affordability crisis, but would develop a strategy before the next state election - in March 2023.
"The New South Wales Labor Party is working on our policies to move forward to the next election and how we will approach this problem about housing affordability and its' worst manifestation in homelessness," Dr Holland said.
He said Labor hoped to initiate a state-wide housing summit consulting with residents, builders, architects, planners and all three levels of government to look at solutions to housing affordability, social housing availability and key-worker housing before the next election.
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He said the issue of homelessness required "a combination of local, state and federal approaches".
Dr Holland said NSW State Labor would commit to ending no-fault-evictions.
"Finding homes for people who are homeless is our highest priority," Dr Holland said.
"The priority would be to get people into social housing.
"A lot of the social housing needs quite urgent repair and maintenance at the moment."
When asked by Bay Post about support services for people currently suffering from homelessness who cannot wait for the next election, Dr Holland said:
"I think we have very good communities and groups who are working as hard as they can to provide accommodation - temporary and long term - to provide basic things like food, cleaning, showers and laundry. They do a great job, but they need to be supported by government. It's not a long term solution."
Dr Holland has personal experience with the horrors of homelessness: his brother was homeless, while his adolescent years were overshadowed with the threat of homelessness because of domestic violence. He is participating in the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast Sleep On It Challenge - sleeping rough in Bega on April 8.
He said homelessness effected physical and mental health, education and employment opportunities.
"No one chooses to go homeless," he said,
James Tugwell
James Tugwell is a reporter for Australian Community Media in Batemans Bay. james.tugwell@austcommunitymedia.com.au 0447 189 738
James Tugwell is a reporter for Australian Community Media in Batemans Bay. james.tugwell@austcommunitymedia.com.au 0447 189 738
