August 4-10 was National Homelessness Week, aiming to raise awareness and explore the importance of long-term solutions for homelessness.
Homelessness is a harsh reality for many in Australia.
Approximately 122,000 people experience homelessness in Australia at any given time, with 7 per cent of this demographic ‘sleeping rough’.
Meaning many are ‘hidden’ from sight – sleeping in cars, sofa surfing, or living in temporary accommodation.
Mercy Foundation CEO, Sue Mowbray, says one of the most common factors in homelessness is domestic and family violence, with many women seeking support and shelter in refuges.
“Unfortunately, there’s not enough social housing for them to move into,” she said.
Other factors include poverty, ill physical or mental health, and a lack of affordable housing.
Specialist Homelessness Service (SHS) reported that around 39 per cent of people aged 16-85 with a history of homelessness experienced mental health conditions, twice as much as the general population.
“There are women, men, all ages, all types of issues, all sorts, being in the system for too long. It’s heartbreaking.” Mowbray says.
As of June 2023, 169,000 households were waiting to be allocated public housing, with wait times only increasing since.
A person or family can potentially be put on the wait list anywhere from five to ten years.
Mowbray recalls a young man who reached out to Mercy Foundation after recently becoming homeless, seeking help in finding social housing.
“He had no idea. It was crushing to hear the optimism in his voice, when we knew that in reality, it was going to be a really tough process.”
A staggering number of juveniles and young adults aged 12-24 are experiencing homelessness.
Last year reports showed that 43,226 young Australians presented alone for homelessness support.
ECU’s Associate Professor Trudi Cooper says her research shows young Australians are largely independently homeless, meaning they are without their families.
Cooper also says those under 18 who are affected fall under the responsibility of Child Protective Services, but it is very difficult to place them into foster care.
“They put them in Group homes where many young people don’t feel safe, so they go onto the streets.” she says.
What can be done to help?
Mowbray says “Early intervention is key.
“Trying to prevent homelessness is so important because once people fall into the system, it can be really hard to get back into housing.”
When a person does successfully manage to get into housing, costs can apply to creating a home again.
The Mercy Foundation has developed the Home in a Box, aiming to help formerly homeless people sustain their housing with a box full of home ‘essentials’.
To help support the homeless, donations and volunteer work at local charities is encouraged.
In collaboration with the WA Government, ABC Perth Radio and Uniting WA organised “The Breakfast Blitz” campaign, which called on locals to make food donations for the homeless from July 21 until August 8.
Due to the success of The Breakfast Blitz, ABC Perth Radio has organised a free event for in honour of the campaign.
Friday, August 15 at ABC Perth studios, locals have been invited to join in a morning of music, connection, and community.
