The theme for this year’s Neighbourhood House Week celebrations is ‘Building resilience by bringing people together’.
Neighbourhood houses empower individuals, families and communities — providing opportunities to participate, learn, grow and connect.
Mr Gepp said throughout the pandemic, hundreds of volunteers from local neighbourhood houses lent a hand. Whether it was preparing and delivering food, providing clothes and equipment or just giving support to vulnerable members of the community — they went above and beyond.
“Neighbourhood houses are vibrant, supportive and inclusive spaces. I encourage everyone to get involved, connected and help celebrate Neighbourhood House Week — and beyond.”
He said they were safe, inclusive and supportive spaces for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, to come together to participate in meaningful social activities and access to vital employment, training and volunteering opportunities.
These include language classes, computer or internet tutoring, health and wellbeing activities, life skills programs, gardening and healthy food preparation activities, self-help groups and occasional childcare.
Neighbourhood houses are also vital central points for communities in times of disaster. Throughout the pandemic, as well as the bushfires, many houses across the state have become hubs — offering shelter, food and clothing relief, and other support.
The Victorian Government is continuing its funding of the Neighbourhood Houses Coordination Program through the 2022-23 state budget.
This investment builds on the record $21.8 million to boost the Neighbourhood House Coordination Program in the 2018-19 state budget, which led to an increase in coordination hours for 162 houses.
The investment also delivered an extra 4,800 funded hours of support and advice so individual houses can learn how best to run their services.
In total, the government funds more than 400 neighbourhood houses across the state, supporting almost 200,000 Victorians each week who visit a house or use their services.
For more information, visit: providers.dhhs.vic.gov.au/neighbourhood-house-coordination-program
To find your local neighbourhood house, visit: www.nhvic.org.au/list-of-neighbourhood-houses-via-local-government-area
