A sense of community is more important in recent years than ever, and Yarra Ranges and Maroondah residents have a chance to help their fellow neighbours.
Habitat for Humanity Victoria is calling for community members in these areas to volunteer in helping residents in the Dandenong Ranges region restore their homes.
More than a year on, families in the Mount Dandenong region are still waiting for help to rebuild or repair their homes after last year’s “freak” storm that tore through the Dandenong Ranges. 76 homes were destroyed and another 92 were damaged in the event, many of which housed vulnerable families and individuals without the capacity to recover from the disaster. While residents praised the incredible immediate clean-up efforts thanks to a strong community spirit and SES services, long-term recovery remains a slow process as removal of larger trees and debris are impossible to take on without outside help.
Last month, Yarra Ranges Council and Cardinia Shire Council received a $650,000 grant funding from the State Government to increase support for families affected by the storm. This funding will allow them to work with organisations to connect vulnerable families to service providers, as well as fund equipment and critical training for the necessary work. Habitat for Humanity Victoria is one of two key organisations partnering with the Councils in undertaking this project through organising volunteer days with both community and corporate groups.
Habitat for Humanity Victoria is a non-profit organisation with a vision where “everyone deserves a decent place to live”. Their storm recovery program brings together teams of volunteers to assist these vulnerable homeowners to clean up their properties. The do this by cutting and removing fallen trees, clearing debris and conducting minor home repairs.
Since the storm, Habitat for Humanity Victoria have received over 100 requests for help and have undertaken over 40 storm-related volunteer days. Executive Director Philip Curtis welcomes the funding to enable the ongoing recovery work. The past 14 months of work undertaken by the organisation in the storm affected areas revealed there were still many residents in need of practical assistance.
“We are pleased Cardinia and Yarra Ranges Council has secured this grant funding to support our team and volunteers to assist vulnerable residents unable to complete the cleaning up and restoration of their properties,” Mr Curtis said.
“We are looking forward to engaging volunteers from across the community to support those needing assistance. We value the opportunity to partner with Council to generate positive outcomes for residents impacted by the storms.”
Currently, over 30 requests for help still remain on the waiting list, as the Habitat for Humanity Victoria team works hard to organise volunteer groups to provide assistance. Vulnerable individuals and families in more immediate needs are prioritised to receive help, but limited volunteers present ongoing challenges in being able to meet these needs.
“The gratitude we receive from the families we’ve helped have been incredibly encouraging for our volunteer teams,” says on-site supervisor Rod. “But we are aware of the number of families in need who are still waiting for assistance, and we’re trying our best.”
Habitat for Humanity Victoria is calling for volunteers in the Maroondah and Yarra Ranges area to consider rolling up their sleeves to help families repair their homes. A single volunteering day with three or four individuals can make a huge difference in the living condition of someone in need. No professional skills are required, as on-the-job training will be provided where necessary.
If you or your organisation are interested in joining the efforts to help your neighbours in the Dandenongs, reach out to habitatvic.org.au/volunteer, or contact Volunteer Manager Felicity at fsmith@habitat.org.au.
