Homeless blocking Sydney’s streets

By Marina Freri

A Liberal Councilor has declared people living on Sydney’s streets semi-permanently should seek Council permission.

Cr Shayne Mallard raised the issue in a question on notice in reference to a homeless man who told the media last year he earned as much as $50,000 a year through begging.

Cr Mallard said the man’s large number of belongings obstruct the walkway on the corner of George and Market Street, and block pedestrian access to the local stores.

“How can a person live with a semi-permanent set up on the public footpath without Council consent or a development application?” he asked.

“Surely it’s time we forced this person to relocate to a less problematic location?.”

While Lord Mayor, Clover Moore said she shares Cr Mallard’s worries about the man’s impact on the public space, she said she is also concerned about the welfare of homeless during this winter’s low temperatures.

She said the man has been referred to a new assertive outreach service, which helps people who are rough sleepers to enter long-term housing, and that police are working with Council to minimise the impact on pedestrians.

“We cleanse the area three times a week and will shortly increase this to four. We encourage him to limit his belongings; not everyone who is offered help accepts it immediately,” said Ms Moore.

“Experience shows that consistent and regular contact with services like the outreach team is often required to help people who have been homeless for a long time into housing.”

The Mayor said pointed out begging is not illegal in NSW unless the person blocks a pedestrian thoroughfare or acts in a threatening manner.

In his question on notice, Cr Mallard mentioned indeed that some community members have told him the man aggressively begs for money at times.

But Ms Moore replied that people suffering acts of aggression should refer to the local police station and report the episode.

A report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2009 found there were an estimated 27,374 homeless in NSW.

The main cause of homelessness was domestic violence, while financial difficulties influenced only the 10% of the homeless.

For the man who lives at the corner of George and Market Street, Ken Johnson, 53, the reason seems to be a major family’s expense.

During an interview with The Daily Telegraph last year he said he started begging to help a close friend pay for a liver transplant and medical treatment.

Mr Johnson also told the paper that his income ranges between $75 and $400 per day which he deposits on a bank account.

“I’d be really disappointed if I did a long Friday and I only had $250,” he told the Telegraph.

In 2009, the NSW Government launched a “Homeless Action Plan” with results available in 2013 by which time the Government expects to achieve a reduction of 25% in the number of people sleeping rough in NSW.