Rosies’ heartfelt plea: For God’s sake, fix youth homelessness

A HOMELESS support organisation head has launched a scathing attack on the State Government for not doing enough to help teenagers living on the streets.

A HOMELESS support organisation head has launched a scathing attack on the State Government for not doing enough to help teenagers living on the streets.

Rosies Gold Coast co-ordinator Kathleen Vlasic has taken aim at the government for not doing enough and allowing homeless teens to fall through the cracks.

INSIDE A GOLD COAST ‘FLOP HOUSE’ FOR HOMELESS TEENS

Homeless lair that is an old underground carpark in the basement of an abandoned building on corner of Markwell Ave and Gold coast high way. Picture Mike Batterham

Ms Vlasic believes the system is broken, with money that is being poured on to the issue not making its way to where it is needed most.

“It horrifies me to see how many kids are slipping through the system. I’m horrified to see it. There is a whole group of them that come to see us on a daily basis at the moment,’’ she said.

Homeless lair that is an old underground carpark in the basment of an abandoned building on corner of Markwell Ave and Gold coast high way. Picture Mike Batterham

COAST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEAL WITH 150 CASES EACH WEEK

“The system is simply not working for these kids.

“The government pours money left, right and centre into organisations, but these kids are not being cared for.

Rosies volunteer Kathleen Vlasic with just some of the items donated to them for this winter

Ms Vlasic said it was easy to see how young people fell into crime when forced on to the streets with no support network. “Some of these teens come from horrendous home environments. My God, you can’t fathom it,” she said.

THE UNDERGROUND FLOP HOUSE BENEATH THE GLITTER STRIP

Homeless lair that is an old underground carpark in the basment of an abandoned building on corner of Markwell Ave and Gold coast high way. Picture Mike Batterham

“I’m a firm believer that the more desperate you make people, the more desperate they will be. They will shoplift, they’ll do whatever they can so that they can survive.”

Ms Vlasic said it was easy to complain about homeless people: “It’s all very well for people to complain about the homeless, but what about people doing something to fix it? For God’s sake, fix it.

Homeless lair that is an old underground carpark in the basment of an abandoned building on corner of Markwell Ave and Gold coast high way. Picture Mike Batterham

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR 50C A DAY

“Find some sort of accommodation for them at night.”

She said flop houses and other shanty-style accommodation the teens were living in were horrific.