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Bushfire-affected Victorians move into new temporary homes in time for Christmas
A year on, we're helping Victorians heal
Residents still waiting to rebuild after the Black Summer Bushfires are moving into modern homes coordinated by Bushfire Recovery Victoria and furnished with furniture, appliances and household essentials from GIVIT.
From Upper Murray Towns in Victoria's northeast and across East Gippsland, short-term modular housing is being constructed for those who lost their primary place of residence in last summer's devastating bushfires.
Bushfire victims are mostly electing to have their temporary housing delivered to their existing address. This means they can be onsite full-time as they rebuild their permanent residence, whilst having a safe, clean, modern space to live. GIVIT has provided donated household essentials to ensure people can feel comfortable and at home straight away.
So far, we've provided furnishings including white goods and appliances, furniture, bedding, kitchenware and home essentials for 27 modular houses, including six in Mallacoota, 13 in Sarsfield and four in Nariel Valley.
I can’t believe I have a new bed to sleep in, and so many people and businesses have chipped in to help us! I’m lost for words. I don’t know what to say.
GIVIT Engagement Officer, Lisa Herbert, said there's still a long way to go in the recovery.
"The Black Summer Bushfires raged almost a year ago and as much as we think many people are back on their feet, plenty are not."
"We've seen first-hand the many factors impacting recovery. Making a concrete decision on how exactly to move forward is often the biggest obstacle, then throw in COVID-19 and everything that's come it, and you can see why the recovery process has been complicated for residents and families."
The finishing touches are being made on another ten or so modular houses, and will be delivered and filled with household essentials for more East Gippsland locals in the coming weeks.
GIVIT has had amazing support from a range of national and local retailers like Sealy Australia, Ikea, Dyson, Bunnings Warehouse, Pacific Furniture Bairnsdale, Joe Calvi Fine Furniture, Simic's Bairnsdale Betta Home Living, Harvey Norman, Pinchapoo and Spotlight Bairnsdale.
Our Victorian Bushfires Appeal has received donations from generous members of the public from around Australia. We've coordinated more than 15,000 items to support bushfire-devastated Victorian communities.
GIVIT's Lisa Herbert at a short-term modular housing site in Gippsland as part of Bushfire Recovery Victoria
