This weeks speaker Katie Gray is the Housing Advocacy Officer for Just Home Margaret River. Her mission is to create a better understanding of housing affordability and availability in the region, as well as help people with a case by case situations to secure a home.
The Housing Advocacy Project is locally funded by the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, The Rotary Club of Margaret River, Margaret River Soup Kitchen, local donors and fundraising with in-kind support from the Margaret River Community Centre.
The Housing Advocacy Project is locally funded by the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, The Rotary Club of Margaret River, Margaret River Soup Kitchen, local donors and fundraising with in-kind support from the Margaret River Community Centre.
Katie has a team of workers who have experienced a variety of difficulties with homelessness themselves. Her task is to keep the Shire on track, to report to donor organisations and to assist people experiencing homelessness, facing evacuation from homes, legal problems, budgeting and loneliness. She told us that at any time there can be 20 to 60 people experiencing homelessness in Margaret River. The focus now is shifting with domestic violence, to provide housing for the perpetrator rather than moving the whole family.Her task seems almost insurmountable with no easy single solution. The Community centre provides much assistance from showers to washing machines She spoke highly of the Shire saying that they are very supportive.