Light on plight of homeless

By Lia Bichel
A HOMELESS man living in a Narre Warren boarding house fears he will lose joint custody of his five-year-old son if he doesn’t find a place to live soon.
And he is making a documentary about life in boarding houses to highlight the problem of homelessness.
Forty-six-year-old Steven O’Brian moved out his Dandenong house three years ago after his marriage broke down.
The former self-employed courier had to quit his job due to knee and back injury and was living off WorkCover and is on a pension.
Mr O’Brian said he was unable to find a home to rent in Dandenong because he was unemployed and has since found shelter in a Narre Warren boarding house, which he shares with six people.
“No-one will rent to me because I am on a pension,” he said.
“I need someone in Dandenong to give me a go.”
For the last three years, Mr O’Brian has lived out of his car, in a friend of a friend’s house and in private boarding houses.
Mr O’Brian said the private boarding homes he has lived in were dreadful.
“The first week I moved in, I had my computer stolen, with all my son’s baby pictures,” he said.
“It isn’t right. Some of the houses are dirty. People are squeezing into them, some with children of their own. Many have pets.” “I have come from a normal home to this. All I want is to have normal standard of living for my son.”
Homeless support group WAYSS general manager for Housing Program Jen Kelly said homelessness was a problem throughout Victoria.
“There is not one particular area that is worse than another area,” she said.
“It’s bad everywhere.”
WAYSS is an organisation which assists individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Ms Kelly said she and her staff felt the demand for private housing as many homeless people did not want to rent because of high costs.
Mr O’Brian, an aspiring social worker, said he hoped to shed some light on homelessness in Victoria and conditions of many boarding houses by making a documentary.
He said Homelessness Advocacy Services (HAS) has contacted him regarding his efforts and he was hoping to do volunteer work with the organisation in the future.
For now, he is just hoping to find his own place to live to keep custody of his son.
“I need a house desperately,” he said.
“I need to save my son.”