Year in Review 2019 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 31 MISSION & OUTREACH Msgr Peter Jeffrey, Rhonda Lawson-Street and Fr Joe Taylor spearheaded the forum. PHOTO: Shepparton News Homelessness Forum inspired action and commitment Nearly 70 people from across the Diocese of Sandhurst attended CatholicCare’s Housing and Homelessness Forum at the Monsignor Peter Jeffrey Centre, Shepparton on Saturday 6 July. Shepparton News and WIN News reported on the event which looked for long term solutions to the important issues of housing stress and homelessness. Rhonda Lawson-Street, Director of CatholicCare Sandhurst, explained the day emerged from a desire to greater understand the complex issue and “get together and create a plan.” Elizabeth McFarlane, President of the Australian Young Christian Workers, travelled from Sydney for the forum to help guide the group discussions through Cardinal Cardijn’s ‘see, judge, act’ process. Fr Rom Hayes spoke about the new Bendigo Winter Night Shelter project’s first year. “It’s been wonderfully successful - it’s helping ten people every night. One of the things they say is that they really enjoy coming because it’s safe,” Fr Rom said. Mgr Peter Jeffrey spoke on his plans to have more social housing in the local area: “small homes for people who find there’s been a broken marriage and they’re looking after children or for people that can’t get accommodation,” Mgr Peter detailed. Denis Fitzgerald, Executive Director and Claire-Anne Willis, Senior Policy Officer, from Catholic Social Services Victoria presented on the national and state data on homelessness, the housing gap and regional profiles. Denis said that responses to housing stress and homelessness need to emerge from individuals, community groups and government. “There are wonderful examples of activity in each of these spheres, but there is also much more that can be done,” Denis said. “One of the benefits of a day like this one is that we can learn from others in roles similar to our own about what has worked for them.” The location of Shepparton was due to the initiative of local clergy Fr Joe Taylor and Mgr Peter Jeffrey, who are keenly aware of Shepparton having the highest level of homelessness in Victoria.
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