Victorian Fires - Loaning Trailers/Caravans/etc

57 views and not one reply + or - to the idea?

Yes some people have $60,000 campers, whcih I'd hesitate to loan to, but many people have nothing to their name.

Was thinking the same. There is so much money raised that could be used to purchase vans for the people affected. Its ok to stay with friends and family for a while but some of these people will eventually want to rebuild. There isnt nothing left but their memories. Caravans with showers and toilets and generators so these people can live in them until their houses are rebuild.
Easy for me to say I guess im not there.

hi mate

i understand where you're coming from however ,for most ppl a camper van or caravan represents a sizeable/significant investment and there are always going to be concerns if you will get it back undamaged etc.

At the moment, the best bet would be to let the govt worry about things like housing. It's a fairly long term thing and not something that can be sustained beyond a few weeks on donations etc from the general population. No doubt govt depts such as Defence will be asked to provide field kitchens and field accommodation if they are not doing so already.

Just as an aside...In the US after Katrina hit and the govt was criticised for being unprepared and slow to react etc, the US govt went all out and started providing mobile homes and caravans whilst they rebuilt New Orleans - to cut a long story short - in the end when they finally audited the total cost of their assistance package, it turned out that almost 20% of the aid package had gone towards acquiring this "temporary housing" and now they own about 160,000 RV vehicles and mobile housing units and dont know what to do with them.

just my two cents worth.

cheers
jeelan

I was pondering the same thoughts yesterday. I have a camper trail not in use and people who have lost everything.

I am thinking that such an offer could not be made with a time limit on when to return it to the loaner. Meaning that the people who are offered the use of a caravan or camper trailer would need to keep it until they have at least partly rebuilt their home.

I will donate cash via Red Cross etc. While my heart would like to offer the use of my camper trailer, it is likely to be more effective for the donation funds to hopefully provide the people in need with the resources they need.

Looks like Truckster has already posted details, but there is a donation hotline set up if you can spare the use of a caravan (or spare room/empty house etc). See The Age article for more details:

Emergency accommodation hotline for bushfire homeless

Office of Housing

Maybe if the Power could be restored to a lot of the properties by the electricity corporation - with just a pole & meter & single phase power outlets, and the water still works....the loaned caravans etc, could be parked on peoples own property to allow them to clean up the mess and slowly start the process of restoring their lives!

I'd suggest that anyone who wants to do it tows their vans into the closest afected area and try to find a property owner to make the offer too!

A LOT of these people are going to have no cars!

Cheers

T-Man its a great idea I reckon. The red cross I think is coordinating housing and I think they would love some assistance. If its not them they could put you onto the right people.