The Dan Andrews government this morning announced $5.2b in funding to build 12,000 new social housing units which will create around 18,000 new jobs.
Whist this is absolutely fantastic news and something we have been lobbying for since we started this charity almost 6 years ago, we have still forgotten one fundamental flaw in the system.
These jobs that will be created will mostly not be suitable for those living within the turmoil and chaos that homelessness and domestic violence brings.
We believe in the housing first model but until we give a person back their sense of purpose we have only done half the job.
We must create purposeful jobs that are not time critical or mission critical that can be done by people living with homelessness or other instabilities that exclude them from 9-5 work or work that is time critical.
We must make space in the workplace for people experiencing homelessness, domestic abuse and mental health issues.
Until we can give people suitable, appropriate and purposeful employment we have only done half the job.
