Focus on plight of homeless- Steven O’Brian is making a documentary about homelessness and boa

By Lia Bichel
A HOMELESS Dandenong man 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 of his 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 now on a pension.
Mr O’Brian said he was unable to find a home to rent because he was unemployed.
“No-one will rent to me because I am on the 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. He is currently living in a boarding house in Narre Warren, which he shares with six other people.
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.
“It isn’t right. Some of the houses are dirty. People are squeezing into them, some with children of their own. Many have pets,” he said.
“I have come from a normal home to this. All I want is to have a normal standard of living for my son.”
Homeless support group WAYSS general manager for Housing Program Jen Kelly said homelessness was not only a problem in Dandenong but throughout the state.
“There is not one particular area that is worse than another area,” she said.
“It’s bad everywhere.”
Ms Kelly said there was a demand for boarding houses because many homeless people did not want to rent because of the high costs involved in renting properties.
City of Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti told the Star that homelessness was a problem in the area and he had even spoken to many homeless people this week about their personal struggles.
Cr Memeti discussed the issue with fellow councillors at a meeting on Monday night.
“It is something we need to look into,” he said.
“We need to support agencies and work together to help the homeless in the community.”
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 Homeless 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.”