Homeless service in Southport CBD which feeds 80 people told to ‘move on’
Volunteers who help feed up to 80 homeless in the Southport CBD have been told to “move on” by council security guards as they started their fortnightly cook-up.
Gold Coast
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Volunteers who help feed up to 80 homeless in the Southport CBD have been told to “move on” by council security guards as they started their fortnightly cook-up.
But council has responded by saying the group, like any other, will need to get a permit.
Homeless Outreach volunteer Josh Kilburn has asked for help as he approaches council to continue their services opposite Australia Fair where the camp site was based.
“Someone has filed a complaint, and now 30 to 80 people will go hungry tonight and not know why. Please help this reach the right people, we made a promise to be there – rain, weather or shine,” he posted on his Facebook page.
A supporter wrote back: “Gee where is the compassion. The council should be ashamed of their actions.”
Mr Kilburn told the Bulletin the Birch Foundation has been providing food every fortnight for four months. Their Monday night service was abandoned despite having supplies.
“Our main goal is to help people going through domestic violence and homeless, and then we do aged care, NDIS health and law as well. We’ve been running for a year and a half now,” he said.
Council officers this month, with police on standby, removed items from the camp opposite the shopping centre after complaints by residents about safety. Councillor Brooke Patterson had been working with senior council staff to resolve the dispute.
But Mr Kilburn believes the safety issue has been overplayed because his group monitors the behaviour of clients.
He said a few outreaches had encountered drug and alcohol problems. Volunteers recently quietly removed a person when they appeared drunk.
“It’s really upsetting to see people saying that everyone there is drug and alcohol (impacted) because the majority of people we have met are elderly, or they are working hard and they cannot afford a house,” he said.
“Or they do have a unit and are struggling to make ends meet, to even eat.”
Mr Kilburn said he was intending to approach council to obtain a permit to use the area.
“It’s just nice to provide that one night solace to keep hunger at bay. So if we can do, we are going to keep doing that,” he said.
Ms Patterson said it was standard practice for anyone organising groups in a park to approach council and seek permission from the administration.
“You have to get a permit. If you have a fitness trainer with six people training the park, it requires a permit,” she said.
Mr Kilburn said the group had spoken to council and other stakeholders previously and there had been no problems.
“Because we are doing things for free, it’s just a little Aussie barbecue on the corner, it’s nothing big. As far as they knew, it was fine to do,” he said.
“It starts at six o’clock and goes to 7.30 or 8, there are no kids around. We keep it as safe as possible.
“We have at least five to ten volunteers with us every fortnight, It is getting bigger and bigger. The main thing is to be able to sit down with these people.
“If they are going through drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness, depression or DV we able to sit there and talk to them as well, and provide clothing and bags for their personal items.”
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