Rochester’s Salvation Army officers are bracing for what they believe is the inevitable expansion of a homelessness epidemic, which has taken hold in Bendigo, Shepparton and, to a lesser extent, Echuca.
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Lieutenant Cameron Lovering, who arrived in Rochester two years ago with his wife Maryanne and two young children, has seen first hand the spread of the homeless problem to regional Victoria.
“We are somewhat protected in Rochester, due to the geographical nature of the town, but not far down the road the problem is clear for people to see,” he said.
Lieutenant Lovering said while Rochester had not been confronted by the same issues as Bendigo and Shepparton an end to Federal Government COVID-19 assistance (from June 30) would have an impact.
“While we are not seeing homelessness here - we do see it, just not on the scale of what’s happening elsewhere - what is happening in other towns is an indication of what could happen,” he said.
Lieutenant Lovering said if people in Rochester found themselves under threat of homelessness they would re-locate to find a larger town with services that could help them.
“If people have to leave their house of tenancy they move out of the area. It definitely is an issue and it is serious,” he said.
Given the limited availability of low cost housing and little to no emergency accommodation in the Campaspe shire – most people we have encountered tend to relocate to other areas.
Rochester’s Salvation Army officers have been part of an area leadership team working in regional Victoria to combat the growing homelessness issue.
It has been a hectic three-year period for the Loverings, who were in Sydney briefly when the COVID-19 pandemic first started, involved in delivering hampers and providing emergency relief.
Prior to that the couple was in central NSW (Forbes and Parkes), where they were involved in providing support for people affected by significant droughts that plagued central, northern NSW, into Queensland and even Victoria.
“In January 2020 I deployed to assist communities affected by the bushfire crisis across NSW. Only just recently Rochester TSA deployed myself and another member Cade to assist southern Queensland and the Northern NSW communities in their flood crisis.
“Although our community has been crisis free in recent years, we are grateful the community has been able to offer support to other communities in need,” he said.
The latest focus, homelessness, is a subject the Salvation Army has seen evolve from family breakdowns and domestic violence during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Lieutenant Lovering said the Campaspe region was not devoid of its own homeless problem, but admitted “for one reason or another’’ people in the Echuca area had chosen to live away from the public eye.
“There is a problem in Echuca, it’s just not in your face,” he said.
“Although we may not see the stereo typical depiction of someone experiencing homelessness as depicted int he media, there very well may be people in our community couch surfing, living remotely, or even taking up residence in free camp sites, caravan parks and cabins as they have no other place to go,” he said.
Lieutenant Lovering said homelessness was not the domain of the unemployed, explaining people who you would not normally see end up in these situations were often affected.
“We are seeing people who have a stable income who can’t find housing that they can afford,” he said.
Lieutenant Lovering said, to this point, he had not had people come to him in Rochester in regard to being homeless.
“We have had a number of them, some have opted to move to other areas where more services are on offer. Others were just passing through and sought out temporary assistance.
“We are aware of people who are regularly in need of assistance,” he said.
“But during COVID we actually saw a decline in people seeking for assistance from the Salvation Army. In Rochester this was not the same in other areas.
“For some people the payments they were receiving left them in a better situation than they before.
“Perhaps a permanent increase in government benefits for those receiving welfare such as what was offered in the pandemic might be advantageous for those experiencing hardship now,” he said.
Lieutenant Lovering said by not been overwhelmed by people in need of assistance in Rochester, it had enabled he and Rochester Salvation Army to support neighbouring communities.
“The Salvation Army is trying to secure the services of a full-time person to work in the homelessness space,” he said.
“We are preparing for what we think may come, which is likely to be more people coming to us for assistance.
“We will be prepared for that increase in demand.
“I am surprised we didn’t see the amount of people we expected during the lastr few years of the COVID pandemic, the benefits that the government provided certainly assisted people.”
Lieutenant Lovering said the organisation was not limiting its support to we are “a voucher here and there”.
“We have government funding and through the Red Shield Appeal we have funds available to assist people,” he said.
“We are looking at how best we can use those funds to target issues relevant to the town.”
More than just offering up a sleeping bag or tent, the Salvation Army is now connecting those in need to a financial counselling service, while also offering friendship and support.
Lieutenant Lovering said there was emergency relief funding available that had not been expended last year.
“Because of the Salvation Army’s position we purchased heavy-duty Coleman tents,” he said.
“We have these available now for those people who are setting up longer term.
“We know we can’t fix the long-term issue of affordable housing. For this we need external help, long term crisis accommodation, affordable housing and the like, however, we cannot fail to act now through the provision of temporary shelter, warmth, clothing and provision of immediate needs.
“But people can be assured if there are issues that arise in Rochester we are prepared and continuing to prepare for when that assistance is required.
“If you are not seeing it right before you it doesn’t mean it is not there.”
Lieutenant Lovering said people knew someone in need they should let him know.
“We need the community’s assistance in addressing this concern. If you would like to be involved with assisting those in need in our community through making a donation to our work, collaboration with us to address the need, volunteering your time or even your companies particular skills, or even the provision of goods that may help, please contact me on corpsofficer.rochester@salvationarmy.org.au
“TSA has long been a volunteer army, we need volunteers to help us respond as the need arises.
“Whether you are a master chef in the kitchen, or skilled in stocktaking, retail, or administration, all assistance is valued and appreciated, all assistance helps us help others. I am establishing a team that can be called upon to assist those in need outside of our area in collaboration with other communities to help them, assist those in need. If this sounds like something you are interested in, please get in contact with me now,” he said.
Kyabram Free Press and Campaspe Valley News editor