'I can't feel safe': Brighton residents in fear over plans to house homeless
Residents of an affluent Melbourne beach-side suburb are outraged by a state government plan to put homeless people in temporary units, on local land.
Brighton locals say they fear for their safety, citing concerns about mental health and drug issues the future occupants might bring to their neighbourhood.
The plan is to build temporary units for five homeless people on two government-owned blocks, worth almost $4 million.
Brighton resident Rosetta Caponio said the plan had potential to bring social problems to her suburb.
"These people might have mental illnesses, they might be drug addicts. I can't come home at night and feel safe," she told 7 News.
"I may have to move out. I can't put the safety of my daughter at risk."
Russell McDonald agreed, saying the plan was a risk to community safety.
"The street is full of young families and my own grandchildren [are at risk] for God's Sake."
Adding to the anger, locals say only a handful of them received notification of the plan.
"[We've received] absolutely no consultation whatsoever. It's quite outrageous really," one resident, identified only as Elizabeth, told.
Victorian Housing Minister Martin Foley said the proposal was part of the response to the Flinders Street homeless camp which was broken up earlier this year.
"We make no apologies for making sure the responsibility, this community responsibility, is shared around all of Melbourne," he said.
At the Salvos Cafe Rob Botwell and Jeffrey Batten, both in and out of homelessness, say Brighton locals have nothing to worry about.
"They shouldn't be scared because these people need to be given a chance," Mr Batten said.
Mr Botwell said education was the key to integration.
"It's just a lack of understanding of what homeless people, how they end up homeless and what they have to go through each day to survive."
The Andrews Government plans to start building the six units within a few months, with the new residents moving in by the end of the year.
