The Bendigo street housing campaign (also known as Bendigo Street or People Need Houses, Houses Need People) are a series of occupations of empty state government-owned properties acquired for the previously proposed East West Link tollway in Melbourne's inner north. The occupations commenced on March 30, 2016 with the involvement of the Homeless Persons Union Victoria, and have involved at least fifteen properties in Collingwood, Clifton Hill and Parkville, while ten properties are currently occupied, involving a campaign hub, a First Nations embassy and temporary/crisis accommodation, run by the community.
The campaign has housed 40-100 people including several families, First Nations/Aboriginal peoples, women, trans & gender diverse people, queer people, young people and students. In August 2016 the state government was forced into negotiations with residents, enabling some to access public housing, however it has also continued evictions despite committing to this process, and has not committed to any increase in public housing or other homeless and long-term housing services.
The empty properties were compulsorily acquired or purchased by the previous Coalition state government for construction of the East West Link. The tollway project was subsequently cancelled by the new Andrews Labor government, who initially committed to transferring 20 of the acquired houses to the social housing sector specifically to house homeless people. However, only four or five of these were filled - with people with personal links to the social housing organisation managing the properties - the rest remained empty 6-18 months later while the state government waited to rent or sell them on the private housing market.
There are 22,000 people who are currently homeless in Victoria, 3,000 of whom are children. 10,000 applications for emergency shelter and 35,000 people waiting on the public housing waiting list. There are 80-90,000 empty privately-owned residential properties in Melbourne. Property and rent affordability, and lack of access to public housing are severe issues in Melbourne and regional areas of Victoria.
In March 2016 a group of homeless women attempted to squat one of the empty houses in Collingwood but were quickly evicted by the state government. This sparked a protest at the house involving the Homeless Persons Union Victoria, homeless people, squatters and housing campaigners. After a day-long standoff with the state government over two of the houses, the community gained control of the houses and began using them as a campaign hub, a First Nations embassy and temporary housing for homeless people, demanding that all the properties compulsorily acquired be put on the public housing register. The campaign quickly gained broad support in the neighbourhood and broader community.
On April 10, the Andrews Labor government announced that the empty properties "could" be used as crisis accommodation for women and families escaping domestic violence, though made no commitments to doing so, or any commitments to providing short term or long term public housing solutions for people escaping family violence.
On April 22 and 29, the Andrews state government evicted homeless people from two of the empty properties on Gold Street, Clifton Hill. Several more empty houses were occupied in response taking the total occupied to five. Through May, more events around homelessness and housing were held and several more properties brought under community control.
By mid June a total of 15 properties had been involved in the campaign with 10 occupied at that time, mostly by homeless people housed by the campaign. State government sporadically attempt evictions with only two successful. Two homeless people are arrested but not charged during an eviction on Wellington Street on June 9.
By early August, 14 properties were under community control housing 40-60 previously homeless people, ABC reports 100. The state government continues to refuse to place the properties on the public housing register, or house those currently housed in the properties.
Injunction and housing offers
On August 11, the state government and police deliver eviction notices to each of the 13 houses occupied at that time, allowing people a mere 24-48 hours to vacate, after which time police would be used to throw people back into homelessness. In response on August 12, residents from the occupied houses filed a injunction in the Supreme Court of Victoria to stop the evictions. The injunction was granted on the grounds that 24-48 hours is not sufficient time to allow for people to vacate, risking forcing them back into homeless. The implications for the women and children residing in the occupied houses is particularly taken into consideration. The use of police and private security in evictions is condemned and discouraged by the justice on August 14.
The injunction and legal processes forced the state government to meet with residents of the houses, 3 families and 3 women were able to negotiate pathways into public housing, and to allow time to engage with services, while others were either not offered any housing, or were offered to participate in processes that hindered their access to housing. The keys to several previously occupied homes (such as 16, 12 and 2 Bendigo Street) are handed back to the state government and several residents are housed in public housing, some after waiting for years with 35,000 others on the public housing waiting list.
The injunction is extended several times, ultimately ending on September 19.
Following the end of the injunction on September 19, evictions are threatened, but none occur. Community and social services are more formally linked in with residents of the occupied houses on Bendigo Street, specifically to support those affected by intergenerational trauma, substance abuse, domestic and family violence, etc. The state government commits to ongoing processes towards providing housing for some of the remaining residents.
However, these commitments are dishonored on October 28 when the state government surprisingly returned to the use of police to affect an eviction, illegally gaining entry without a warrant to number 13 Bendigo Street, arresting three First Nations/Aboriginal residents without charge. The eviction sparks a wave of new protests, number 13 and number 16 are retaken by community, a First Nations family is moved into number 16, several speak-outs take place in the street and the state government adopts a strategy of demonisation in the media, mobilising police and media resources on a scale greater than had been seen at any point in the campaign.
On November 4, a man in his 50's was found to have passed away inside number 4, Bendigo Street, possibly due to a drug overdose, though this is unconfirmed. Community light candles and lay flowers at the home as a mark of respect. Meanwhile, Housing Minister Martin Foley and the Salvation Army's Brendan Nottle used the person's death to attack residents and the campaign in the media, drug-shaming the homeless community and suggesting the death is further justification for evictions. A fourth family is housed in public housing at this point, making the total housed in public housing from the campaign 4 families and 3 women.
On November 10, the supreme court issues orders for the "recovery" of 4, 16, 18, 24 and 26 Bendigo Street. Then on November 12, the state government announced a $109m homelessness funding package that would include: "120 new or developed housing units, 30 units for vulnerable women and children, a "rapid housing blitz" providing government purchased and leased homes, a new crisis centre in Melbourne's west and targeted support for people who require alcohol, drug and health services" but makes no commitments regarding the Bendigo Street houses or long term housing provision such as public housing.
Currently, in the absence of sufficient government assistance and support, residents, neighbours and those involved in the campaign have been left to continue community-based processes of supporting residents affected by intergenerational trauma, substance abuse and domestic & family violence, as those affected by homelessness continue to struggle to access safe, long term housing.
March 11: women evicted from squatted empty East-West Link house on Bendigo Street
March 30: two houses occupied, eviction occurs at one of the houses
March 31: a third house occupied, campaign hub set up
March 31: community meeting held attended by over 100 local residents and supporters
April 3: a fourth house is occupied, a First Nations embassy is established called "Sovereign House"
April 4: a public event discussing homelessness is held
April 5: the City of Yarra (local government) passes motion to facilitate meeting with the housing minister
April 6: an event is hosted at the First Nations embassy discusses Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples and issues of treaty, land rights and decolonization
April 7: a second community meeting is attended by over 100 residents and supporters
April 9: state government creates a new Family Violence Housing Assistance Implementation taskforce in response to the campaign, though no commitments regarding the empty properties
April 12: an event is held on the issue of queer and transgender homelessness
April 13: a legal briefing is held sharing information about legal rights and police accountability
April 22: the Andrews state government evicts homeless people from an empty EW Link property on Gold Street, Clifton Hill
April 24: a large street party is attended by over 200 people
April 26: several Bendigo Street houses sign land lease with First Nations peoples
April 26: a film night is held at number 12 with members of Melbourne's West Papuan community
April 29: real estate agent Noble Knight, acting on behalf of the Andrews state government, threaten and intimidate homeless people from another empty house on Gold Street
May 3: residents of Bendigo Street begin to visit Martin Foley's office
May 4: film screening at number 12
May 6: police liaison & observing training at Bendigo Street
May 10: number 18 begins running solidarity & support for other social justice campaigns
May 16: another Treaty discussion with First Nations peoples
May 19: picket of Noble Knight offices in Lilydale
May 22: police harass homeless protest at City Square
June 1: a property in Parkville is brought under community control
June 1: First Nations film night at number 12
June 2: estate agent Compton Green illegally cuts water to Parkville property
June 3: Number 8 Bendigo Street brought under community control
June 3: community dinner at nearby public housing estate
June 5: queer squatting film night
June 9: Food Not Bombs fundraiser at number 16
June 9: police evict a Wellington Street property, arresting two homeless people
June 12: gardening working bee at Bendigo Street
June 13: Sovereignty event with First Nations peoples at number 2
June 13: trans & gender diverse women's space opened by community on Bendigo Street
June 16: state government attempts & fails to evict trans & gender diverse house
June 16: Spanish language lessons at number 18
June 17: CPR & First Aid training at number 18
June 19: Squatting skillshare at number 18
June 25: a rally is held at City Square attended by 50 people
June 26: a rally is held at the State Library attended by 150 people
June 27: properties continuously occupied for 100 days
June 29: State government & City of Melbourne evict homeless people from Enterprise Park
June 23: St.Vincent's "CEO sleepout" event gatecrashed by homeless people & housing activists
June 25: a rally against homelessness is held at City Square attended by 50 people
June 26: a rally against the housing crisis is held at the State Library attended by 150 people
June 27: properties continuously occupied for 100 days
June 29: State government & City of Melbourne evict homeless people from Enterprise Park
July 18: apartments at 117 Manningham Street are occupied
July 21: 56 Alexandra Parade is occupied
July 22: police attempt to evict 56 Alexandra Parade
August 1: real state Compton Green and Victoria police illegally attempt to gain entry to an apartment at 177 Manningham Street that is home to a previously homeless family, though they are unable to gain entry
August 2: Compton Green and Victoria police again illegally attempt to gain entry to the family’s home, they are unable to gain entry but the family is forced to relocate as a result of the intimidation.
August 5: Homeless Persons Union hosts a forum on homelessness at the Richmond Town Hall
August 11: number 13 Bendigo Street (a house of First Nations people) is raided by 15-20 police, 3 First Nations people are arrested but are released without charge. It is not clear if police had a warrant to enter.
August 11: The state government and police deliver eviction notices to each of the 13 houses giving people 24-48 hours to vacate.
August 12: resident from all the occupied houses file a injunction to stop evictions, injunction is granted
mid August: state government offers a few of the residents public housing, the rest of the residents are not offered anything, some take the offer while the campaign continues.
August 28: Bendigo Street Festival is held in Bendigo Street, street is closed to non-local traffic, a stage is set up with live music, workshops, films, tours and food in each of the houses. 300-400 people attend.
September 19: Injunction ends, evictions are threatened but none occur.
October 28: Number 13 Bendigo Street is raided again, without a warrant and in conflict with the process to house First Nations residents. 3 people are arrested but are released without charges.
November 1: In response to the eviction of Number 13, Number 16 is retaken by the community and a First Nations/Aboriginal family moves in.
November 2: Number 13 is also retaken in the morning. The state government mobilises 40-50 police to evict Number 13, one person is arrested but released without charges. State government co-ordinates media presence for the eviction, housing minister Martin Foley goes in ABC news radio publicly attacking residents.
November 4: a man in his 50's is found to have passed away inside number 4, Bendigo Street, possibly due to a drug overdose. Housing Minister Martin Foley uses the person's death to attack residents and the campaign in the media, drug-shaming the homeless community and suggesting the death is further justification for evictions.
November 10: Supreme court issues orders for the "recovery" of 4, 16, 18, 24 and 26 Bendigo Street, evictions expected.
November 12: state government announces a $109m "homelessness funding package" but makes not commitments regarding Bendigo Street houses or long term housing provision such as public housing.
The state government has attempted to evict homeless people from several of the properties. Most of these have been unsuccessful, two have succeeded, with the state government subsequently locking up these properties and keeping them empty.
Gold Street April 22: state government evicts several homeless people after real estate agents illegally gain entry to the property without permission of the residents. A second house on Gold Street is threatened by real estate and police on April 29. More properties are occupied in response.
Wellington Street June 9: state government evicts several homeless people from a property on Wellington Street after police illegally gain entry. Police arrest two people taking them into custody, but not charging them. More properties are occupied in response.
13 Bendigo Street August 11, October 28 and November 2: state government has evicted number 13 on three separate occasions, each time it has been retaken by community and brought under community control. 50 police were deployed by the state government for the third eviction.
16 Bendigo St March 30: state government attempts and fails to evict residents at number 16, more community arrive and additionally occupy number 18. State government backs down.
18 Bendigo St March 30-31: attempted and failed eviction of number 18 after police cannot access property and permission is not granted by residents. State government backs down.
2 Bendigo St mid April: attempted and failed eviction of number 2 after letter intimidating residents is ignored and permission not granted to allow police entry.
Gold Street late April: state government attempts and fails to evict residents after estate agent Noble Knight calls police who cannot access property. State government backs down.
Manningham St, Pakville June 1: attempted and failed eviction of residents after estate agent Compton Green call police who are unable to gain entry. State government backs down.
8 Bendigo St June 3: attempted and failed eviction of number 8 after security call police who are unable to access the property. State government backs down.
24 Bendigo St June 16: attempted and failed eviction after fence is erected around number 24 and community remove fence.
Alexandra Parade July 22: police attempt and fail to evict a home on Alexandra Parade.
Manningham Street August 1-2: attempted and failed eviction of a family after real estate and police attempt to illegally gain entry to an apartment on Manningham Street that is home to a previously homeless family, though they are unable to gain entry. A second failed attempt is made the following day, the family is forced to relocate as a result of the intimidation.
Flat Out: women's housing & decarceration
Housing for the Aged Action Group
Friends of Public Housing
Melbourne Activist Legal Support
Flemington & Kensington Legal Service
Trains Not Toll Roads
Friends of the Earth
3CR Community Radio
Food Not Bombs
Victorian & Australian Greens
