Homelessness survey finds 386 people sleeping rough in City of Sydney

Extract from The Guardian

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Homelessness

More than 85% of the 507 crisis accommodation places in the city were full, while a further 162 people were in temporary accommodation

A homeless man in Sydney. The number of people sleeping rough in the city this winter is at the second highest level on record. Photograph: David Moir/EPA

Christopher Knaus

Friday 18 August 2017 15.34 AEST Last modified on Friday 18 August 2017 15.43 AEST

The number of homeless people in Sydney sleeping on the city’s streets this winter is at the second highest level on record, a new survey has shown.
The City of Sydney’s latest count, conducted on Tuesday, found 386 people sleeping rough in the council area this winter.
That is a slight fall from 394 in winter last year, but is still the second highest level since the survey began in 2010.
As expected, the number is below that of the summer survey conducted in February, which recorded 433 people sleeping rough.
The survey found 438 of the 507 crisis accommodation places were full, while a further 162 people were in temporary accommodation.

Homelessness New South Wales chief executive, Katherine McKernan, said inner city homelessness was likely to worsen due to the lack of social housing and affordable private rental properties.
She urged the state government and the Sydney city council, who recently battled over the Martin Place homeless camp, to work together to build a long-term plan to support the disadvantaged and vulnerable.

The homeless of Martin Place’s tent city ordered to tear it down

“Internationally, other cities have grappled with high housing costs and increasing homelessness and the overwhelming evidence identifies that rough sleeping can be ended,” McKernan said.
“This can be achieved through adopting a housing first approach that provides long term support alongside social housing – internationally 90% of people housed in this way are able to maintain their housing.”

Mission Australia chief executive, Catherine Yeomans, called for investment from all levels of government to increase social and affordable housing stocks.
“It’s unacceptable that 386 people are sleeping rough across Sydney, and that crisis and temporary accommodation are near capacity without the ability to house the hundreds in need.
“We know from experience that putting a roof over someone’s head is an essential first step. However, many people who become homeless have complex needs and it’s essential that they receive the right long-term programs and services to support them to maintain their tenancies and address their other needs.”
The number of those sleeping rough in central Sydney is only a fraction of the broader homelessness problem.
Hidden forms of homelessness – sleeping in cars or couch surfing, for example – affect vastly more people.
The Salvation Army’s Mitchell Evans said those sleeping rough accounted for only 6% of people currently experiencing homelessness.
“The hidden homeless are no less vulnerable than the rough sleepers, but their lack of visibility means they are often forgotten.
“We need to ensure that all Australians have access to safe, secure and affordable accommodation and we need to make sure when those most vulnerable in our community reach out for help that the resources are available to assist them in their time of most need.”

The figures come weeks after the NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, legislated new move-on powers to clear a homeless camp in Martin Place.
The measure, largely criticised by the homelessness sector, was accompanied by new support to the Wayside Chapel, in Potts Point, to extend its after-hours service.
At the same time, Berejiklian highlighted NSW’s efforts to build 23,500 “new and replacement social housing” dwellings in a decade. The government is also building 2,200 additional social and affordable homes through phase one of its $1.1bn “social and affordable housing fund” initiative.
But the St Vincent de Paul Society’s NSW chief executive, Jack de Groot, said its petition to the NSW parliament to mandate an affordable housing target of 15% earlier this month was rebuffed.
“While our petition was endorsed by the NSW Labor party, the Greens and independents, the government still shows little appetite for this initiative,” de Groot said.
“This is very disappointing but we will continue raising our voice. Charities can’t end homelessness on our own. All levels of government must collaborate with institutional investors and the not-for-profit sector to find a solution with more affordable housing stock and accessible services.”
The City of Sydney, in releasing the data on Friday, announced it would fund a not-for-profit real estate agency for those on low and moderate incomes.
The council gave housing provider Bridge Housing $100,000 to establish the new agency, which will enable private landlords to help those who are looking for affordable housing.
Sydney’s lord mayor, Clover Moore, said homelessness in the city was at crisis point.
“More than 60,000 people are stuck on the state government’s waiting list for social housing, with some waiting up to 10 years for a property to become available,” she said.
“We urgently need more affordable and supported housing in the inner city, and we’re ready to work with the NSW government to help provide it – if they will let us.”