A rally on the steps of parliament has called on the Allan Government to deliver funding certainty for our Neighbourhood Houses that are struggling financially to keep their doors open.
Hundreds of Neighbourhood House representatives from across the state converged on the Victoria State Parliament for Neighbourhood House Victoria’s Day of Action to make their voices heard to government.
The Nationals’ Melina Bath said Neighbourhood Houses are struggling to keep the lights on with operating costs climbing and stagnated state government funding that’s failed to keep pace with CPI over many years.
Labor’s inability to maintain funding for Neighbourhood Houses in line with CPI is placing essential support services at imminent risk during a cost of living crisis.
“The rising cost of living is impacting grassroots community organisations by increasing their overheads and driving demand for emergency food assistance, housing support and crisis counselling higher.
“If Labor does not deliver sustainable funding to our Neighbourhood Houses, services will halt, social inclusion will decline and vulnerable people will go without.”
Ms 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.
“The Nationals are calling the Allan Labor Government guarantee their future by delivering funding certainty as our regional and rural towns cannot afford to lose their local Neighbourhood Houses.”
