Homeless flock to empty CBD streets for sense of security

Some of Sydney’s homeless community explain why they prefer to sleep in the CBD over the suburbs.

The lack of Sydney’s usual hustle-and-bustle due to Omicron has been a blessing for homeless man Grant, who for the past week has camped out in a makeshift home on the corner of Erskine and Clarence streets.

“Around here I get along with them, there’s not much ground-floor business here,” he said of his relationship with the businesses ­surrounding his impromptu ­encampment on the footpath. “Down the city (towards Haymarket) it’s a lot harder, there are a lot more complaints.”

Grant sleeps on the streets of Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

The 47-year-old had previously lived in a unit in Leichhardt provided by a homeless assistance charity, but he lost that accommodation when he was sent to jail last year.

He moved to the streets of the CBD after his release from prison in November.

“Safety. There’s nowhere to hide out there,” he said, when asked why he preferred the city to the suburbs.

AJ has slept rough for eight years.

Jed finds safety in numbers. Pictures: John Grainger

For Kiwi A.J, who has slept rough for eight years, the support services on offer in the inner city is what drew him to Sydney from Adelaide.

He’s bunked down in Pitt Street Mall since December, saying there was a better sense of security compared to other parts of the CBD during lockdown.

“Once you move out of the CBD … then you are asking for danger. At least this mall, there are always sec­urity guards around, there’s a flow of people, there are security cameras, and (charity) services,” he said.

Jed, who has slept under the cover of Pitt Street Mall for the past month, said sticking to the busier parts of the city was important during lockdown where there were fewer people around.

“I find if I’m asleep there on ­George St people could attack me or steal something,” he said.

“Here, there’s a security guard who works at nights, it’s the safety (that comforts me).”