Half moon residents need continued community care

cohealth Chief Executive, Lyn Morgain, said the closure of Half Moon Caravan adds to the urgent need for more low cost accommodation options in Melbourne’s West.

“Any closure of low cost, short term accommodation options is a concern for Melbourne’s West. There are currently very few options available so it means fewer places for people on low incomes needing crisis accommodation – people like mums and their kids fleeing family violence,” Ms Morgain said.

“cohealth has been working with other community care providers and the owners of Half Moon to build its capacity to support people in vulnerable situations – things like setting up a community garden and conducting fortnightly community outreach clinics which look after people’s oral health and well-being.

“We’re certainly pleased that the government has committed to re-housing current residents. Our first concern is that these current residents can still access the sorts of community and health care support provided at Half Moon. But our second concern is for people seeking this sort of low cost crisis accommodation in the future – where will they go after the closure of Half Moon?

“Half Moon was not perfect, but it has been home for some of our most vulnerable and in future we need to make sure that not just the current residents that are supported into new homes and communities, but that more accommodation options are available in the months to come.

“We know there are strong links between people’s health, and their ability to access accommodation, not just any accommodation but accommodation in places with services which can provide the care and interaction we all need to be safe, resilient and well”, Ms Morgain said.

cohealth has operated outreach community health clinics to residents of Half Moon Caravan park for a number of years providing oral and community health care.