By Jessica Anstice
A Gembrook man is helping to break down the homeless stereotype by sharing his story.
Tim, surname withheld, has been living in Kirth Kiln Regional Park since before Christmas last year.
He doesn’t sleep in front of shops on a main street and he doesn’t beg people for money. He is simply a man struggling to find employment, much like 5.4 percent of Victorians.
“I keep my site clean, I cause no trouble, I’m great with the rangers – they have no hassle with me,” he said.
“I’ve got nothing to hide – not into drugs, not into illegal activities and I’m not a thief – I’m just a homeless guy who needs somewhere to stay.
“Living out here is hell. I don’t have a fridge, no TV, and poor phone and radio reception.”
Tim moved from Queensland to Dandenong for a job, but when he arrived, he was turned down after failing a medical examination.
“Straight away they said ‘no, sorry we can’t have you because it’s too much of a risk’, which is the same answer I get from every job other I apply for,” he explained.
“I can’t survive on unemployment so I’m still searching for a job but until I get one, I’m stuck.
“It’s impossible to get a rental when you don’t have a bond, have two dogs and you don’t have a job.”
However, Tim is not the only man living in the large nature park. He says there are “a couple of us here”.
Despite some neighbouring resident’s concerns, Tim doesn’t want the community to fear him.
“We’re not all bad people, we’re not all drug addicts and we’re not here by choice,” he said.
“Those that are here now, as far as I know, are law abiding citizens who are just stuck. We’re between a rock and a hard place. I would love to be in a house.
“The police know I’m here – they’ve done a check on me and everything is fine.”
He did however acknowledge a few negative incidents that were mentioned in the Gazette’s previous article from the resident’s perspectives.
“I’m aware that there have been a couple of incidents but one of the guys was chased out and another one is in remand so he is gone,” Tim said.
“As far as people like myself, I just don’t have anywhere to go.
“I’ve got a brother in Pakenham but this was the first time I’ve seen him in 25 years and his wife is disabled so I don’t have that as an option.”
Another homeless woman, who wishes to remain anonymous and has been living nearby the public camping grounds for about a month, took mention of the fires that were discussed by neighbours in the previous article.
“We don’t leave unsupervised fires because we don’t want all of our belongings to burn down,” she said.
“I’ve put out at least four or five fires that people have started in the morning and then just gone home.
“I’m worried that when we go that there’s going to be no one to put the fires out.”
Her partner, who also wants to remain anonymous, nicknamed the campers ‘weekend warriors’.
“They come out here and just trash the joint,” he added.
“People leave rubbish behind and it is not us. ”
