Save Barak Beacon

Public housing tenants build communities, the Victorian Government wants to destroy them. Save the Barak Beacon community from destruction.

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

We know people don't come to this site for facts, but we thought we'd give it a crack anyway.

Here are 10 facts you should know about the campaign to #SaveBarakBeacon 🧵

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

EVENT: The Fight for Housing Justice

Join us for a screening of the 'Bendigo St' doco, followed by a chat with the filmmaker and housing advocates on the future of housing justice activism.

The event is free, but you need to register: https://t.co/VuroqeoTTQ

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

The ACT Govt will no longer forcibly relocate public housing tenants after they took the Gov to court, arguing the process breached their human rights.

Good leadership is changing your mind when you've got it wrong. Be a good leader @ColinBrooksMP!

https://t.co/LYsj3gVKUv

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

Is this the same housing build where public tenants were evicted from their homes to make way for private housing?

The same housing build where residents won't be able to return until 2024, which will be six years of being forcibly displaced from their community?

[Colin Brooks MP @ColinBrooksMP]

Another great social housing project. Premier @DanielAndrewsMP and I inspected this build in North Melbourne with @HChoicesAU CEO David Fisher. 70 homes for people who need them most. Part of our Big Housing Build of 12,000 social & affordable homes

[Housing for the Aged Action Group @HAAGHomeAtLast]

There's got to be a better way to make rents affordable for older people to stay in the town they call home - limiting AirBNBs, limiting rents, building Public Housing https://t.co/pIKvAEwXqX

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

They might be “new” homes, but they’re not “additional” homes.

Q. Is Vic Gov building new public homes at the same rate they’re demolishing them?

A. No.

[Colin Brooks MP @ColinBrooksMP]

Onsite at Bills Street Hawthorn today with MP John Berger and the Housing Choices team. 103 new social housing apartments and 103 affordable units. Our Big Housing Build is delivering thousands of new homes

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

Barak Beacon is far from the only community being torn apart by governments.

In the NT, where homelessness is worse than anywhere else on the continent, the government is demolishing public housing and selling public land.

Make it make sense.

https://t.co/WybqIyR08N

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

There are alternatives to demolition.

A feasibility study showed it would save $88m to refurbish Barak Beacon and prevent residents from being evicted.

It’s almost as if there’s some sort of incentive for the Govt to privati$e public housing 🤔

https://t.co/QzUfNRCS3A

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

What is this "social" housing you speak of, Colin?

Would it be "public" (i.e. capped at 25% of income, government owned and managed, subject to the Charter of Human Rights) or "community" (i.e. not any of those things...)? 🤔

[Colin Brooks MP @ColinBrooksMP]

Joined @AnthonyC4PV today to “top out” the Harvest Square project in Brunswick West. More social housing - 119 apartments in partnership with Women’s Housing Ltd. Part of our massive housing build in Victoria

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

Cute pic @DannyPearsonMP. Hooray for more housing!

Will any of them be publicly owned and managed?? 👀

[Colin Brooks MP @ColinBrooksMP]

Checking out more homes that have been built under the Andrews Labor Government’s Big Housing Build. These 3 units in @DannyPearsonMP territory delivered with the Salvos

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

@Thomas47944910 Perhaps you need to reread it?

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

We know people don't come to this site for facts, but we thought we'd give it a crack anyway.

Here are 10 facts you should know about the campaign to #SaveBarakBeacon 🧵

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

Putting aside the "social" vs "public" housing issue for just one second...

For all @ColinBrooksMP posturing about the "Big Housing Build", latest figures from the AIHW show that even the proportion of social housing in Victoria is falling.

[kristin (she/her) @kristin8X]

Big drop in the proportion of public & community housing – in every jurisdiction except the NT – since 2014.

188k households waiting, up from 173k, & apparently 25k unoccupied homes.

20,000 social homes in 5 years comes nowhere near cutting it.

Source: https://t.co/c3XRklMQZk

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

In addition, other sites undergoing "redevelopment" have literally sat empty FOR YEARS.

Residents at the Abbotsford St Estate in North Melbourne were evicted in 2018, with the latest revised return date estimated to be mid-2024.

That's SIX YEARS of residents being displaced.

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

An article published today in a major metro masthead quotes @HomesVicGov claims that Margaret is delaying the return of residents to Barak Beacon.

It's worth noting that HV still doesn't have a contract for construction of the new homes, nor have they released any design plans.

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

Only ONE MORE DAY till our #SaveBarakBeacon movie night!!

It’s all happening 5.30pm tomorrow in Port Melbourne. You grab your seat, we’ll provide the popcorn.

Get your tix here: https://t.co/dXjHDIFYZn

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

Apologies, we'd incorrectly attributed this article, which was actually authored by @cait__kelly

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

“This was our safe home. And that’s what it’s been for so many tenants.”

Margaret Kelly is staying firm and says police will need to carry her out.

#SaveBarakBeacon ❤️

https://t.co/v1e9nh6nR5

story by @gingerandhoney @GuardianAus

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

@gingerandhoney @GuardianAus @cait__kelly Whoops, so sorry about that!

Will RT with appropriate attribution. Thank you for letting us know 💜

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

“This was our safe home. And that’s what it’s been for so many tenants.”

Margaret Kelly is staying firm and says police will need to carry her out.

#SaveBarakBeacon ❤️

https://t.co/v1e9nh6nR5

story by @gingerandhoney @GuardianAus

[Save Barak Beacon @savebarakbeacon]

Today Margaret announced that despite Homes Victoria’s eviction order, she’s not going anywhere.

This fight affects us all. Whether you’re struggling with rent or one of 120,000 people waiting for public housing.

Solidarity is a beautiful thing ❤️

📷 credit: @millie_gryphon