Public housing residents at 150 Inkerman Street, St Kilda, have notched their first major win since getting organised this year. After issuing demands to Homes Victoria last week, the agency caved and introduced a 24/7 security detail to the building this week.
For years, the over-55s building has been plagued by a general sense of unease. Most residents have experienced intimidating behavior from outsiders who break the security doors at night and disrespect the communal facilities.
Since Inkerman was announced for demolition by the State Government at the beginning of the year, residents there have been fighting back. Sixty percent of them signed a petition to stop the destruction of their home, and a residents committee was elected in a mass meeting last month. Residents have also started declaring ‘non-cooperation’ with Homes Victoria’s attempts to remove them from their community.
The Residents Committee wrote a demands letter to Homes Victoria last week demanding 24/7 security. The Committee stated that the department had seven days to reply, or face further consequences.
With four days left on the deadline, the security team emerged at Inkerman, demonstrating the power of collective organising.