Homeless deaths reveal a parched issue

Drinking fountains may be made more available in public areas following the discovery of two dead homeless men in the same park this Summer.

The same Mission Beat worker found the men within a month-and-a-half of each other in Frog Hollow Reserve in Surry Hills, a popular hangout for ‘rough sleepers.’

While Mission Beat couldn’t confirm the cause of death of either individual, it said that both extreme heat and intoxication were relevant factors.

“These two incidents happened when we had some really hot weather and the exposure is absolutely, without a doubt, a big problem for people who are sleeping rough,” said a Mission Beat spokesperson.

Both men, known clients of Mission Beat, were believed to be in their 40s, and were thought to be sleeping in the open for some time.

The temperature on the days the men were found was recorded as between 26 and 29 degrees celcius.

Sydney City Council is looking to install bubblers in its parks following Deputy Lord Mayor Marcelle Hoff’s call that they would help prevent the dehydration of homeless people.

“They go to sleep under the influence of alcohol and, at times, sleep in the sun, and they’re continuing to dehydrate when they’re asleep. Then they wake up, they think they’re thirsty, and so if they’ve got more alcohol they’ll drink more alcohol,” Ms Hoff said.

Ms Hoff also said that installing bubblers would also limit litter caused by discarded water bottles.

The City’s latest Street Count showed the number of rough sleepers was slightly down in the last six months, despite expectations that the warmer weather would bring more people outdoors.

Ms Hoff, who helped on the count, said recent wet weather could have driven some to find shelter.

The City of Sydney pledged to end ‘chronic homelessness’ by 2017 through initiatives such as its Common Ground project, which aims to accommodate homeless people in affordable housing.