Growing need to help the homeless

EDITORIAL

Most Australians went to a polling booth on Saturday and made a simple declaration, to state their address and collect a ballot paper. But not everyone. A category on the electoral roll is reserved for people with no fixed address. The homeless are allowed a vote, too.

People with secure housing barely need to give home a second thought beyond the usual chores of maintenance and paying the bills – but for those without, where to sleep next can quickly become the only thing to think about.

Melbourne has a growing number of homeless living rough on the streets; in this season of winter cold, the crumpled swags and meagre possessions in doorways or under bridges mark the obvious signs. Community workers are using the language of "crisis" to describe the scale of the problem. Salvation Army Major Brendan Nottle said he had never seen it so bad.

The City of Melbourne recently recorded 247 people sleeping rough in city, almost double the number of two years ago. More groups of homeless people can also often be found in the suburbs of Melbourne's inner south and around Frankston. Not enough crisis accommodation is available to fill the need.

The homeless are often an easy target of vilification, cast as lazy, welfare bludgers or addicts. Certainly, attitude or drug dependency can play a part in personal circumstance, and as the old saying goes, no one is owed a living. But the reasons for homelessness are complex, including mental health and plain bad luck. A wealthy society such as Australia can afford a compassionate approach.

The voices of the homeless should also be heard. "It is not dignified being homeless. We are ashamed of it," a woman camped on the banks of the Yarra River told our reporters last week. Shame can be a powerful barrier that stops people asking authorities for help.

It is rare that tackling homelessness graduates to be a political priority. Former prime minister Kevin Rudd raised hopes almost a decade ago of a multibillion-dollar policy to halve the number of people without a home by 2020, but he never followed through. In the meantime, the number of homeless has actually increased.

When official attention comes, it is usually in a fashion that displaces the problem. The City of Melbourne cleared out a homeless camp from Enterprize Park in recent days, and with it several truckloads of rubbish and furniture. The council insisted this was not an eviction, but that tents and other camping equipment are not permitted in public places under local by-laws. It has also boosted the budget for homelessness by $2.2 million.

The council cannot be expected alone to address the challenge and underlying causes of homelessness. Stronger coordination is required across all levels of government and with private charities to properly address the multifaceted reasons more people find themselves sleeping rough.

One idea that deserves to be explored is to create "pop-up" style temporary shelters in vacant office buildings.

The idea has been driven by one of Melbourne's biggest housing and support agencies, Launch Housing, with the hope that several inner-city buildings marked for eventual redevelopment could be used in a trial.

But long-term solutions are also needed. 

This will require political leaders to have the courage to stand up for those without material possessions. The availability and cost of rental markets must be examined. As another homeless man, John, who has lived on and off the streets for 27 years, reminded us recently: "It's time for the pollies to fulfil promises and make affordable housing for all of us."