The public housing lockdown announcement on Saturday took me straight back to 2007, when I was working at the base of the Flemington public housing estates, running programs with children and young people. The kids could all speak multiple languages and introduced me, a Northeast Victoria raised AFL hardliner, to soccer. Many of those kids lived three or so to a room, and spent as much time as possible outside on the oval, or in the nearby parks. They adored particular teachers at the local school and their homework club leaders, who would help them with their studies with respect to their dreams and aspirations, which they would tell me all about. They didn’t, along with many of the older residents I worked with in other programs, think much of the police.
It is important that we pay particular attention to the nature of how these lockdowns unfold and how they are handled, as they affect some of the most marginalised and vulnerable members of our communities in the state.
This decision to lockdown particular public housing towers over the weekend by the Victorian Government has clearly been made swiftly and with the intention to benefit public health — both the health of tenants of these buildings and the health of all of us in Victoria. Many of us, of course including residents of the towers, understand the exceptional response that COVID-19 has required, and that these lockdowns form a part of the response. But when the situation has meant that people must, unless there are exceptional personal or medical grounds, remain house-bound for at least five days, we must be careful in the way we go about caring for the health of people.
Like me, Richard Wynne MP — our Victorian Minister for Housing, has also spent time working with the communities who live in the Flemington and North Melbourne public housing towers. I am grateful that a number of decision makers throughout government have knowledge of and direct experience working with residents of the affected communities.
This means that the government knows, at some level, that residents are resilient and creative, but also that many struggle with a range of complex issues. They know that the lockdown could put many people in a particularly difficult situation if they do not have secure employment, or if they have complex health needs, or if they suffer from mental illness, or if they have an acquired brain injury. They know that it will be particularly difficult for those who not have access to technologies that allow them to stay connected to friends, family, services or education. They know that many residences at these addresses are without a balcony or outside area, are small in size, and that many windows do not open. They know that to be house-bound there could be difficult or even a traumatic experience for both adults and children.
This knowledge does show in the government’s stated response regarding their implementation of support for residents. There is enormous effort by multiple government departments working at present, which have now brought on the expertise of various community and social service organisations to meet the needs of these 3000 plus people. But with the scale and timing of an operation like this, how and who care is being rolled out by is important — and there are many voices from within the towers who are expressing frustration because their ability to look after themselves and their families has been taken away. There is also apparent frustration with processes, or lack thereof at this stage of such a quick turn-around operation, that government departments, the police, and community and social services have been attempting to deliver support through.
'During this time when nine sites across three public housing estates have been completely locked down in two Melbourne suburbs, it is of vital importance that each one of the 3,000 plus residents are treated with respect in regards to their inherent dignity.'
The mode of working in this operation is an emergency management one — it follows a public health directive and is being rolled out of the State Control Centre. The markers of this approach is apparent, especially in the use of law enforcement agencies — at the beginning of the lockdown 500 law enforcement personnel were put on per shift. This was a ratio of one law enforcement officer to six residents at the towers, all numbers being accurate. This approach has apparently shifted in response to the distress and anxiety this caused to residents, but there is still a very visible police presence. Australian Services Union, whose members come from the social services sector amongst others, have ‘condemned the law and order response put in place at the North Melbourne and Flemington high rises, versus a health and social services response’ and have asked for numerous changes covering short and long term responses to the situation.
Damien Stock, CEO of Inner Melbourne Community Legal who have a longstanding relationship with VincentCare Victoria and their Homelessness Resource Centre situated in North Melbourne stated recently that they were ‘concerned that order be applied proportionately and flexibly for people who have underlying needs’. There are many formal and informal relationships within these public housing estates, and to navigate this complexity with respect and flexibility requires considerable skill and knowledge. The experiences of many residents can mean that relationships with law enforcement agencies are complex and layered in histories — quite often negative.
A different and effective alternative approach is possible. Local community organisations, school and Church groups, and social services who are connected to the local area and understand the complexities are well placed to assist in an emergency operation like this and to participate in a community-oriented approach. Already they have moved into action, demonstrating the good will and readiness to assist in responding to the challenges of this COVID era, that could be utilised and shift the orientation in how this lockdown has been rolled out — local Catholic parishes and schools are reaching out to their families who have been locked down in these towers to offer support. Social service agencies are calling their clients who live in the towers to connect and maintain supports. Various agencies have begun to provide services coordination at each tower.
During this time when nine sites across three public housing estates have been completely locked down in two Melbourne suburbs, it is of vital importance that each one of the 3,000 plus residents are treated with respect in regards to their inherent dignity.
Josh Lourensz is Executive Director of CSSV, the peak body for Catholic social services in Victoria. He was profoundly influenced by attending a ‘Living Laudato Si’ workshop last year in Bukidnon, put on by the Jesuit Conference of the Asia Pacific. He is a member of the Australian Services Union.