Damien Patterson

Homelessness policy and advocacy. Views are my own

[Kate Fitz-Gibbon @Kate_FitzGibbon]

Victoria’s peak body for family violence services @safe_and_equal have released a statement in response to yesterday’s national cabinet announcements. They are clear that more is needed.

They say, ‘While the actions announced yesterday are welcome, they are simply not enough to create the positive change needed to protect victim survivors and prevent further harm.’

👉🏼 Read the full statement here: https://t.co/83SQ41PFia

[𝗜𝗡 𝗬𝗔 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗘 🌈 @3cr_inyaface]

Today's show: call for safer housing solutions for trans and gender diverse people in Vic Budget, Damien Patterson @CHPVic. Functional Bottom @micomfestival, Jessi Ryan @VoltaireComedy. The King's Player @vtcmelbourne, Tref Gare @AlexTheatreStk. #queerradio @3CR #LGBTQIA

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

@s0ft_rubbish All you and your friends ever talk about is:
- social justice;
- complimenting eachother; and
- that thing that happened one time

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

Joal asks us to remember our capacity to enrich people’s lives. That even within the constraints our service offerings, we can build people’s (connectedness to their own) strength #VHC2023

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

Each government department should have an action plan to address the homelessness created in their systems @ColvinKate tells #VHC2023

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

Sherri Bruinhout reflects that during lockdowns, we had extra funding to say yes to hotel accommodation. Now that money isn’t available, and we have the tension between wanting to increase that funding, and wanting to increase the responses that end homelessness #VHC2023

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

@AHV_org Sarah Sheppard says that 26% of WHL’s allocations go to Aboriginal families. They also started the Women’s Justice Diversion Program in response to the increased incarceration of Aboriginal women that stems from Victoria’s bail law changes #VHC2023

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

Jason Russell is describing the dignity he felt while staying at an Aboriginal owned rooming house. “It builds our people’s strength” he tells #VHC2023

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

Darren Smith @AHV_org calls on all housing and homelessness orgs to be part of the solution to Aboriginal homelessness, as identified in Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort. We also need more funding to ACCOs #VHC2023

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

@CHPVic Dannii de Kretser @HomesVicGov says the lesson of the Home Stretch is that support for young people needs to be able to be dialled up and dialled down, in response to the young person’s changing needs #VHC2023

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

Kicking off Day 2 of #VHC2023 by launching a new model of youth housing, developed by @MelbCityMission @SocialHousingV @CHPVic @salvos @KidsUnderCover

https://t.co/8cwYLJuzYx

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

Heads are nodding across #VHC2023 as @CHPVic CEO Deborah Di Natale says there’s political will to address youth homelessness and housing, and the time is now

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

@UnitingVT “Being a peer worker is the highlight of my life right now” says Jeremy Gunning, Peer Support Worker, and leader of the lived experience group at @UnitingVT Ballarat

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

Nigel Pernu makes his triumphal return to #VHC2023, now as a peer worker. He fosters connectedness for people who have been homeless for a long time. Getting housing is the first step, but it can actually bring your social isolation into focus. That’s where Nigel steps in

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

Stacey Park, @UnitingVT, says peer support workers can build rapport instantly. In a system that lets some people down over decades, it’s essential to build trust

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

@ThorneHarbour @HChoicesAU @VincentCareVic Coen Brown, consumer advocate, says that agencies need to read between the lines of a person’s experience. An assessment tool can’t see the person in front of you, you have to do that #VHC2023

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

Michelle Thompson, Family Access Network tells #VHC2023 that 90% of their LGBTIQ+ have experienced family violence.

[Damien Patterson @DamienPatterson]

@ThorneHarbour @HChoicesAU @VincentCareVic Consumer advocate Robert Van Bergen says that when he was homeless, he tried not to be high maintenance. Now that he knows the homelessness service system, he sees you need an advocate, a role he now volunteers in #VHC2023