QANDA: Are our candidates committed to reducing homelessness?

Last year the City of Sydney recorded lower numbers of people sleeping rough on the streets. The bi-annual Street Counts are conducted in association of the City’s goal to end chronic homelessness by 2017. Last winter, the street count found 289 people sleeping on our city streets and surrounds, compared with 399 in the winter of 2009. Are our candidates committed to reducing homelessness?

Question: What can be done this winter to ensure numbers of people sleeping rough will continue to decrease?

Greens candidate, De Brierley Newton’s response:

The problem of homelessness is as much linked to health issues, particularly mental health and drug and alcohol addiction, as it is to a lack of accommodation. Therefore, the solution must lie in providing affordable housing connected to services eg:

– More Common Ground projects that provide a range of housing and helps those who have been homeless the longest and have the most disabling conditions.

– Proactive outreach programs to help people with documentation to get into the system (Centrelink, HNSW).

– Wet centres where drinkers can drop in and drink safely and have access to services, showers etc.

At the foundation of every solution we implement we must ask, does it improve quality of life and does it treat our homeless population with dignity.

Liberal candidate, Adrian Bartels response:

If we are to keep homelessness at a minimum, both now and in the long-term, government agencies must work together cooperatively. Too many vulnerable people are shunted from one agency to another, with little or no communication between them. Government departments, such as Community Services, Education and Training, and Housing, do not serve people well when they work in isolation from each other.

People working for these departments must be empowered to do their job, be responsible for it, and be focused on being a gentle and compassionate hand up. It is time that we stopped looking inwards – talking about the problems with these departments – and realise that we need to look out, onto the streets, and act.

Labor Candidate, Sacha Blumen’s response:

People experiencing homelessness each have their own stories. Stories including personal experiences which may have resulted in the loss of their jobs, support networks or homes. Early intervention to prevent people becoming homeless is key, as is breaking the cycles of homelessness.

Along with supporting more affordable housing, I would work with local groups on implementing programs in the NSW Homelessness Action Plan including:

– Helping chronically homeless rough sleepers move to supported social housing,

– Early intervention for young people on the streets and helping them move into long-term accommodation, building on the Kings Cross Youth at Risk project,

– Ensuring that people will not be sleeping rough after leaving emergency wards and psychiatric care.

Addressing homelessness is the responsibility of all of us.

Current Sydney MP, Clover Moore’s response:

I promote practical and compassionate action on homelessness including street outreach, supported accommodation, coordinated services and the City of Sydney’s Public Space Liaison Officer. The City is working on projects I promote as an MP, and is the only Council with a dedicated Homelessness Unit.

Many long term rough sleepers and people leaving institutions or care need housing with coordinated onsite support, like the Camperdown Project that will house 80 people based on the proven “housing first” approach.

Family support and reconnection programs help prevent homelessness, and brokerage funds help young people get back home to local support. Expanded mental health and drug services are vital.

I oppose selling inner city public housing. We need more low cost housing, including boarding houses, affordable key worker, public and community housing that can be achieved through developer levies, shared equity programs and public investment. The Commonwealth must provide adequate income support.

If you have a question for the Sydney candidates, email citynews@alternativemediagroup.com