Tim’s ‘home’ improvements

By EMMA SUN
YARRA Ranges Councillor Tim Heenan was forced to set up a tarp over his cardboard box home in Lilydale to weather the heavy storms during his four-week campout for homelessness.
The hills was one of the worst-hit areas as wild winds lashed the state recently, and Cr Heenan’s temporary home at Melba Park was no exception.
He posted pictures of his worn-out and damp box on his Facebook page but said the damaging storm posed no threat to his plans to stay the whole month.
“It was frightening to say the least – we’ve had some really bad rain and enormous winds,” he said.
“The spring equinox has been well and truly acting out so I’ve had to tie it down.”
Cr Heenan said he has already had a chance to talk to many people from various backgrounds about their situation and what it was like to live it rough.
He said he was also working with homeless assistance agencies to encourage them to work together to help people in need.
“What I want is for agencies to come together because they do their own thing relatively well, but not good together,” he said.
“If they finally got together, they can work out why they’re losing out and put the pieces together.”
Anglicare Victoria Lilydale will be hosting an affordable housing forum with speakers, presenters and panel members on Thursday 18 October to seek innovative community ideas and solutions to the local housing crisis.
Local welfare organisations, councillors and politicians will also be present.
Cr Heenan said he looked forward to hearing more stories and attending the forum.