THE relocation of residents from the Central City Caravan Park placed further stress on Bendigo’s already strained market for cheap accommodation, Haven; Home, Safe believes.
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All of the 61 residents have now found new homes, meeting the deadline of December 29.
The caravan park on High Street in Golden Square will close in March next year after the owners were unable to negotiate an extension of their lease. They announced the impending closure to residents in November last year.
Haven; Home, Safe assisted 38 residents in relocation to private rentals, public housing and community-assisted living options. A further 20 did not require assistance.
Support services general manager Donna Gillard said it was a difficult time for many residents.
“The move has caused quite a bit of distress,” she said.
“Most of those have been able to find somewhere in Bendigo. A few have left Bendigo to be close to family.
“Everyone has secured housing. The last of the residents moved out in the last couple of weeks.”
The closure of the park was almost four years after Dower Park Recreation Reserve Caravan Park closed in Kangaroo Flat. A number of residents moved to Central City after that, and have now had to find further low-cost accommodation.
Multiple caravan parks have closed across Victoria in the last 12 months, placing further spotlight on their reliability for long-term housing.
Some Central City residents had to spend thousands of dollars to dismantle their homes – which had been in the park for more than a decade. Others were ineligible for support because they possessed an asset.
Ms Gillard said.the closure of Central City made it more difficult for others trying to find low-cost accommodation in Bendigo, but the 12-months’ notice had helped.
“It definitely had an impact,” she said.
“We had an extra 38 people who needed accommodation in an area where we already have a long waiting list for affordable housing.
“But as people walk through our doors, we support them as much as we would anyone else.”