Revealed: Council announces they will intervene in the homeless crisis
The Gold Coast as a tourist mecca stands to suffer more economically from COVID-19. Is the city prepared? Figures show we are short-changed on helping our most vulnerable.
Gold Coast
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THE council is to take a small step to combating the Gold Coast’s homeless crisis with plans for a crackdown on vagrants and illegal campers in tourism and business hot spots.
A series of reports in The Bulletin has highlighted a 100-strong army of homeless in the Southport CBD and risks for children as young as 11 under the care of Child Safety camped out in Surfers Paradise.
The Bulletin understands councillors were divided on the issue but met in closed session, and today were unanimous in backing a recommendation which sees council working in a space belonging largely to the State Government.
The recommendation included council develop a homeless action plan which required funding of $45,000.
Council would employ to two temporary full time officers as part of a trial to respond to the homeless crisis.
They would focus on Labrador, Southport, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Burleigh and Coolangatta at a cost of almost $192,000.
Council officers under questioning by councillors at a full council meeting said the officers would conduct joint operations with police with their focus on illegal camping in public spaces and business areas.
Robina-based councillor and lifestyle committee chair Hermann Vorster in an address supporting the recommendations admitted “council only has so much skin in the game” and it was up to the State Government to take the lead on the welfare issue.
Some councillors are hopeful the plan will enable council in 12 months to hand across all responsibilities to the State.
Cr Vorster said it was a “very difficult subject” with all councillors having had homeless people approach their offices for support.
He said the council had some obligations and a “moderate” amount of funding was being spent.
“I think it will pay huge dividends,” he said.
EARLIER:
THE Gold Coast does not always glitter.
A 12-year-old girl with a shocking back wound under the care of Child Safety walks out of hospital back to the streets of Surfers Paradise. She is given a phone and fed KFC.
A permanent campsite of homeless adults with the city’s best views now fronts the Gold Coast Highway at the Broadwater Parklands, their trolleys of belongings parked by the pandanus trees.
From the perspective our city’s civic and tourism leaders, these are not exactly postcard images for visitors to take back home.
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What is happening here? Well, COVID-19 will add to it. What really needs to happen next?
Councillors at a full council meeting will debate what is the local government’s role.
Are they serious about playing their part in a more “holistic approach” and joining other agencies? Or what about just moving these people on and recapture the images of the 2018 Commonwealth Games?
There is a divide in the room about this. After closed door meetings, Mayor Tom Tate is expected to outline the council’s position on Tuesday.
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At a state level, in late March the Palaszczuk Government announced a Housing and Homeless COVID-19 Immediate Response Fund package of almost $25 million.
But new figures provide a real insight, and reading them is like embracing the cold breeze off the Broadwater at dawn.
In April, 45 households received help from the Gold Coast Emergency Housing Assistance Response. Another 38 in May. In total, the funding was $263,185.
By comparison, the emergency funding for Brisbane for those two months totalled more than $2.5 million. More than 1000 households were helped.
Bonney MP Sam O’Connor, a regular at the soup urn with welfare groups feeding the homeless at Labrador, sought the figures and is furious about the Coast’s handout.
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Housing Minister Mick de Brenni, in his response to the MP, assured him that hotel and motel accommodation was also being made available on the Gold Coast as a short-term measure for at-risk individuals.
The Brisbane region received $12,679, and $40,837 was spent across the Gold Coast.
His department had provided $2.3 million in annual funding to specialist non-government support services. Four Coast operators received more than $300,000, and five groups in Brisbane obtained just more than $500,000.
At parliamentary committee meetings, Mr O’Connor has asked more questions about the money being spent on specialist homeless services.
Finally, he got more answers.
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Brisbane received $33 million, Townsville gets $12 million and Cairns $11 million. The Coast is last of these regional areas with $8 million.
“That means we’re only getting 7 per cent of the total amount spent across Queensland – it totals $114 million – compared to Brisbane which makes up 29 per cent,” he said.
“We need better support on the Coast for homelessness services and a holistic approach to work with some of our city’s most vulnerable people.”
The numbers of those vulnerable will increase as coronavirus takes its economic toll – only they won’t be added up like at the daily health briefings.
Look at the Broadwater view, the bigger picture.
COVID-19 opens a door here, with an opportunity for all agencies to plan how to heal this growing wound.
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