Once more, the community of Wollongong will come together, draped in purple, eagerly anticipating the upcoming Reclaim the Night event. On Thursday, 26th of October 2023 this annual gathering seeks to heighten awareness of gender-based violence and champion the cause for safer streets for all. The Volunteer Program Officer at Illawarra Women, Dee Blackmore, is enthusiastic about the upcoming opportunity to illuminate the lighthouse in a vibrant shade of purple for this meaningful cause. “The original Reclaim The Night was held in Leeds, UK in 1977, and these marches were a fight for a woman’s right to walk the streets…
Author: Emilia Campbell
The Illawarra community is facing a severe social housing shortage, according to a Public Housing report. The availability of social housing in the Illawarra community is extremely low, with both The Community Housing Trust and the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) witnessing a rise in demand due to the shortage and the current cost-of-living crisis. The ‘Public Housing Renewal in the Illawarra Region’ report shows that there is a significant shortfall in the allocation of social housing, with about 7,000 dwellings currently available, a number that falls way short of meeting the demand and urgent need for social housing…
Many Illawarra residents are facing a level of housing insecurity with skyrocketing house prices, unaffordable rents, and limited housing options, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has acknowledged the ongoing struggle many Australians are facing when attempting to access affordable housing. During a press conference, he stated that secure, affordable housing had been out of reach for too many Australians for too long. “Overwhelmingly, when you have a budget with a bit of pressure on it over the median term, you try to do what you can to begin with the most vulnerable people,” Mr Chalmers…