NEWS DESK
Pandemic a blow for the needy Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au A WELFARE agency that provides support services to disadvantaged people on the Mornington Peninsula is grappling with a range of issues exacerbated by the pandemic. While the number people seeking help has “always been high”, Southern Peninsula Community Support CEO Jeremy Maxwell says COVID-19 has increased the price of housing “profoundly affecting the cost of living for vulnerable people”. “Overall, we have seen a large increase in people impacted by homelessness,” Mr Maxwell said, adding that every year the service provides emergency relief to more than 1600 people and their families. “The bulk of housing options are in the private rental market, and since the rental moratoriums ended in March, rents have skyrocketed,” he said. “Forced evictions have escalated and the pressure from that, as well as loss of income and challenges, such as lockdowns, has seen high numbers of people with family violence and mental health issues. “The level of complex problems in all of our emergency relief programs is growing and, without our efforts, would largely be unmet. We are the only agency that does what we do in our part of the peninsula, which is to provide a complex holistic support framework for those in need.
“We are seeing a group of people who have never had to negotiate the welfare system, married couples on low incomes, older people who have lost their partners, and young people who are all being affected.” Mr Maxwell said a $7500 donation from Flinders District Lions Club would finance outreach programs: Southern Peninsula Laundry and Shower (SPLaSh) and Southern Peninsula Homeless Connections which will “especially help those sleeping rough on the foreshore or in their cars who are doing it hardest”. Mr Maxwell said many of the users were not “engaging with the main housing agencies because of trust or behaviour issues”. He said the Connections program that started last November aimed to build trust and connect people with other agencies which did not have outreach programs. Demand for the service had been so strong – with 93 clients in its first few months – that the person running the program was “overwhelmed”. Mr Maxwell said the programs worked together to provide food, toiletries, warm clothing, tents, sleeping bags and a whole range of different things to get clients out of trouble. “Sometimes we receive donations that help with these things but lately, with the demand being the highest it’s ever been, we are needing to buy a lot,” he said.
Sailors return after Olympic challenge
On course: Will and Sam Phillips in racing mode out on Sagami Bay during the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Supplied
OLYMPIC sailors Sam and Will Phillips, and Tess Lloyd and Jaime Ryan, have returned to Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club after competing in the 49er and 49erFX class races at the Tokyo Olympics. Their races were held on Sagami Bay, about 90 minutes’ drive south west of Tokyo, at Enoshima. “On the water on a clear day you can see Mt Fuji in the distance,” Sam said. “It’s often a welcome reprieve to get out there after the heat of the concrete boat park, although it’s still hot wearing only our Lycra sailing gear.” Sam said the races were typical of big regattas, with mostly light to moderate onshore sea breezes, but their world-class competitors were a “little faster and sharper and the experience off the water a bit more controlled than usual”. He said COVID-19 regulations were strict: “We were tested every morning and had strict protocols surrounding our movements. “Going for a run meant running up and down the hotel corridor, which was 90-metres long if you included the bend. “Despite all these restrictions the Japanese people were super friendly and welcoming.” After a 12-race series the Phillips brothers finished 12th, which they admitted was “not the result we were after”. “It was a pretty humbling experience to be part of such an awesome Australian sailing team at the Olympics,” Sam said. “It was also just nice to have the opportunity to compete again after 18 months. “Throughout the games there was a real sense among the athletes that we were all lucky to have the opportunity to be competing in sports.” Stephen Taylor
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Southern Peninsula News
25 August 2021
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