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Danny O'Brien urges immediate action on social housing shortage ahead of 2025 Homelessness Week in Gippsland

Nationals MP Danny O'Brien urges urgent social housing action in Gippsland South, supporting Uniting Wellington's origami house campaign ahead of 2025 Homelessness Week to highlight the critical housing shortage.

By news@gippsland - 18th June 2025 - Back to News

The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien is calling for urgent action on social housing in Gippsland South. Ahead of 2025 Homelessness Week, which will take place between 4-10 August, Mr O'Brien is joining Uniting's Wellington division in highlighting the critical shortage of social housing right across the state.

Danny O'Brien urges urgent action on Gippsland South's social housing crisis ahead of 2025 Homelessness Week campaign

Gippsland housing shortfall

Mr O'Brien said, "Right now, there are more than 65,000 Victorians on the social housing waitlist with more than half having been allocated priority status. It is clear that we need urgent investment in social housing right across the state yet alarmingly, there is less social housing across the six local government areas that make up Gippsland today than there was when Labor formed government in Victoria more than 10 years ago."

"My office is regularly contacted by people who are currently, or at risk of becoming, homeless and it is heartbreaking to know that there is little I can do to help move them off a long waitlist as long as the Allan Labor government continues to fail to invest in more social housing stock," he said.

Mr O'Brien said in an effort to raise awareness, Uniting Wellington is planning to display 60,000 origami houses across the local community - each representing a social home that Victoria urgently needs. "This powerful visual campaign aims to engage the public and help shine a light on the increasing homelessness crisis both right here in Gippsland South and right across our state."

Housing crisis action

As part of the initiative, Uniting Wellington invites the community to join them at a special pop-up event at the Gippsland Shopping Centre on Wednesday 16 July, from 10am to 2pm. Mr O'Brien said attendees can learn more about the housing crisis and contribute by helping fold origami houses for the campaign.

"Every origami house represents a real house that is needed by a real person who needs a safe place to live. We need long-term, sustainable solutions. Gippsland deserves better - we need more social housing, not less. It is clear that the Allan Labor government cannot manage social housing and it is vulnerable Gippslanders who are paying the price," said Mr O'Brien.

Pictures from Danny O'Brien MP Instagram page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com