It would be nice to always snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, but sometimes we just have to make the most of grabbing a useful defeat from what should have been a no-brainer victory. Strike It Out is a social support charity in Lanceston, Australia that seems to have, in spite of hard work, accidentally defined its challenge in its choice of name — repeatedly ‘striking out’ in its interactions with its local government.
Like many communities the world over, Launceston is quite probably spiritually inclined to do the right thing — provide assistance for people who need help. But when it comes to housing, it can be much easier to do the wrong thing instead.
Over time, there has been more than one politician who has closed down a good idea that is helping community members. And then there are those decision makers who endlessly ignore a good idea, protecting a soiled local status quo with a sprinkling of bad grace.
In Launceston, we’re talking about a community lucky enough to have ingenuity to support, develop and build a prototype for an ingenious method of providing mobile assistance to people who are homeless. It’s a clean-up then sleep-tight mobile service for assisting people who have lost their homes. Alas, Launceston’s civic management is refusing even test it.
Maybe you’re not from Launceston and could see your community exploring such an idea? If so, read more Read more at ABC: Strike It Out told to remove sleeping pods and shower trailers for homeless people in Launceston
