When we hear of homeless people we think "they" are usually in the capital cities, probably because Census night 2006 recorded two-thirds of Australia's population lived in capital cities. However, the same census revealed cities held only 26 per cent of those sleeping rough on the night, making homelessness a big problem for "us".
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Homes North Community Housing CEO Maree McKenzie thought people would never see the full extent of homelessness in Armidale or anywhere else because many hid their misfortune through embarrassment and humiliation.
"It's a patchwork. They have to get together the pieces of the jig-saw that means they get food and somewhere to sleep," she said.
"People might say, 'Well, they have got nothing else to do.', but you try that for a day.
"You wind your way through services, fill in referral forms and fill in applications and get knocked back, and try again. Be suffering from depression or anxiety at the same time, or have a child that is not well, or have a child with a disability."
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Various distinct groups and ages make up the homeless in Australia and figures by the Australian Bureau of Statistics from the 2016 Census show an increase of 4.6 per cent. On Census night 2016 there were 116,427 homeless people in Australia on any given night, up from 102,439 in 2011. There were 37,715 in NSW, an increase of 37 per cent since 2011.
HOW OLD ARE OUR HOMELESS?
- Under 12 14% (15,872) +11% since 2011
- 12-18 10% (10,913)
- 19-24 15% (15,325)
- 25-34 18% (19,312)
- 35-44 14% (14,484)
- 45-54 12% (12,507)
- 55-64 8% (8,649)
- 65-74 4% (4,174)
- 75 and over 2% (2,028)
- Source: ABS.
Ms McKenzie said her organisation helped 21 households who were homeless last month, some with children. She said while the number might not sound very high, it was significant for a small regional centre. Then, of course, those who did not ask for assistance could never be numbered.
"That is an increase. We estimate it is about a 15 per cent increase since January, for the kind of temporary assistance that we provide," she said.
"I think it's a culmination of financial stress, often combined with something else happening. The thing to remember is that each homeless person or household that we deal with is quite unique.
"If we don't carefully unpack what brought a person or household to be homeless, then we're not sending them on the track to stability, because those challenges will continue to ambush those people over time."
SERVICE AVAILABILITY
In rural areas it can be extremely high due to the likelihood of lower incomes, higher living costs and poor housing, relative to regional and metropolitan centres. The limited availability of services means that people's choices and ability to find pathways out of homelessness are greatly reduced.
Ms McKenzie said existing support services were extremely stretched.
Armidale Neighbourhood Centre manager Robbie Passmore Community members who do not fit the homelessness program guidelines such as those with mental health or drug and/or alcohol challenges find their way to the Armidale Neighbourhood Centre.
"We support them to connect with the Link2home Homelessness Information Line for crisis/short-term assistance," she said.
"We also help them with clothing, swags, blankets, toiletries and some warm soup or food (if we have any in stock. If not we will seek food assistance from other services).
"Unfortunately there is a lack of specialist mental health and drug/alcohol services and facilities, such as public showers, not only in Armidale but around around the state."
Misson Australia cited domestic and family violence as one of the top reasons people seek support from homelessness services. Many women and their children are forced to leave their homes, often with nowhere to go.
Manager of Women's Shelter Armidale and Armidale Women's Homeless Support Service has seen that scenario far too often.
"Domestic violence is the biggest single cause of homelessness in women nationally," she said.
Ms McKenzie said many people needed their accommodation to become long-term and stable.
"If services are pushed too much with their quotas, how many they can assist, what funding they've got, timeframes (often three months to support a tenancy) that's not enough for some people," she said.
WHAT IT COSTS
Ms McKenzie thought there were many more who had not asked for assistance, and said the social-economic cost of homelessness was very high.
"Because it's so difficult to resolve homelessness at the moment because the affordability of rental for people is really challenging for people on low incomes, people are cycling around services," she said.
"They are getting whatever they can to get by. Getting a bit of food from here, a voucher from there, getting some temporary accommodation from us for a few nights.
"So, while we're waiting to get longer term solutions, it costs all of the services money."
In April last year, Pathfinders Armidale Youth Refuge reported about 190 homeless youth who were couch surfing, taking the issue "behind closed doors".
Ms McKenzie said the "hidden homeless" were the couch surfers living in overcrowded conditions.
"Those living in an unsafe environment for some young people," she said.
"You will have people living in temporary accommodation. So, in a caravan park or a motel which they really can't afford for a very long time.
"And you will have people sleeping in cars, and we think that's one of the reasons why there is a spike in numbers."
She said sleeping in a car at this time of the year was absolutely freezing, even with blankets and doonas, and thought that may have had something to do with the recent increase in numbers seeking help.