To inadequate housing.. Australia says NO!!

So yesterday we (the order) looked at the issue of homelessness- a horrible injustice in our society. One of the workers from the life centre (drop in centre) spent the day taking us through the issue of homelessness, highlighted just how horrifically inadequate the housing is down here in Victoria (unfortunately the picture is just as bleak everywhere else in Australia!)

Just to highlight how bad it is, here's a statistic. Here in Victoria, if a wife is trying to escape domestic violence with her children, she has to wait approximate 8 MONTHS through public housing to get crisis housing. 8 months... that's just insane. And in the meantime? She tries to find a refuge that will take her for that long.... that will have to take her and her kids for that long because there's nowhere else to go. What's the g-o with that?

Injustice......

And there's other poor souls who live in boarding houses. They are these horrible, disgusting, filthy rooms that you have to share. They are usually situated above pubs and clubs. You have to share a room, sleep on a flea infested mattress, and use bathrooms that are never clean (and that's putting it lightly!) They pay a ridiculous amount of rent (about $160 a week.... remember..they don't even get their own room for that)

Injustice.....

And then there are those who have their own home through public housing. They are forced to live in these 'ghettos'. Massive high rise apartments (i reckon about 20 stories high) that are in a shocking condition. These places are full of substance abuse and crime. You are warned before you walk around the area that you shouldn't go alone, or else who knows what'll happen to you. I see children playing in the park so innocently- unaware of what surrounds them. It makes my heart melt.

Injustice....

So I'm angry.. angry at all of the injustice that surrounds me. I pray every day that I will never become numb to all of the injustice that surrounds me, and yesterday, yet again, God broke my heart for what breaks his. We're called to fight the injustice.... fight it hard... Unite and fight... give it our all. God deserves our all. These people deserve our all. We need to storm the forts of darkness... BRING THEM DOWN!!

(song 696 in the salvation army songbook)

Soldiers of our God, arise!The day is drawing nearer;
Shake the slumber from your eyes, The light is growing clearer.

Sit no longer idly by, While the heedless millions die,

Lift the blood-stained banner high,

And take the field for Jesus.

Chorus

Storm the forts of darkness, Bring them down, bring them down!

Storm the forts of darkness,Bring them down, bring them down!

Pull down the devil's kingdom,Where'er he holds dominion;

Storm the forts of darkness, bring them down!

Give Satan a good kick in the guts today- join the fight against injustice... it's not hard- all you need to do is pray, and play your part as God leads you.

For Him Alone

Ness :-)