In February, supporters and advocates of the Neighbourhood Houses organisation rallied on the steps of Victoria’s State Parliament. Neighbourhood Houses are local organisations that provide social, educational and recreational activities for their communities. They are connected together under a state organisation.
Back in October of last year, the Neighbourhood Houses Victoria launched a Keep Our Doors Open campaign. They’ve been calling on the state government to increase their funding to $11.7 million to avoid the risk of the closure of up to 200 neighbourhood houses across the state.
“Rising costs, growing community demand, and eroded core funding are forcing houses across the state to cut hours, staff, and programs,” said Keir Paterson, CEO of Neighbourhood Houses Victoria.
“Without urgent action, communities risk losing the safe, inclusive spaces thousands of Victorians rely on every week.”
The rally was supported by political parties across the spectrum.
Local Nationals MLC, Melina Bath said, each week more than 185,000 Victorians access Neighbourhood House services in their local communities – many of these are in regional Victoria where access to support is most limited.
“Neighbourhood House staff and volunteers are working incredibly hard to support our communities, but without adequate funding, programs will be cut and services reduced and some face closures,” she said.
“The Nationals are calling on the Allan Labor Government to guarantee their future by delivering funding certainty as our regional and rural towns cannot afford to lose their local Neighbourhood Houses.”
The Greens and the Victorian Socialists have also called on the government to increase support and funding for Neighbourhood Houses in recent months.
The state budget – to be released in May – will deliver the answer to whether these calls have been enough to save houses across the state.
