While watching the national news this week I have heard it mentioned, of the number of people who are sleeping out each night in Melbourne.
The thought of sleeping out on a couple of these freezing cold nights is not nice.
One lady appeared to be so young, yet she was bright and happy and said she was waiting, was on the list, for government accommodation.
This is all very timely as the bishops of Australia in their Social Justice Statement for 2018-2019 have addressed this problem with, ‘A Place Called Home’: Making a home for everyone in our land.
The latest Census figures show that more than 116,000 Australians are homeless – something unacceptable for a rich and well-resourced nation like ours. Yet these people are only the tip of the iceberg: welfare agencies report growing numbers of families and individuals struggling to meet the cost of mortgages or rents and turning to specialist housing services, which are often unable to meet demand.
The 2018-2019 Social Justice Statement, A Place to Call Home: Making a home for everyone in our land, considers the extent of our housing crisis and Australia’s falling rates of home ownership.
The Bishops focus especially on those in our society who are most vulnerable to housing insecurity and homelessness. We are reminded that safe and secure housing is a human right, asserted both by the Church’s social teaching and by the Declaration of Human Rights.
Homelessness is a challenge for all levels of society: for government, for Church and community, and for us as individuals. Each one of us can make a difference and, when we join with others, we can be a real force for change that ensures everyone has a place to call home.
Social Justice Sunday will be celebrated on September 30th.
Fr Michael Morley
Parish Priest
Sacred Heart Parish Tatura
