Homeless refusing hotel stays raise pressure on welfare agencies
Despite being offered free hotel accommodation during the coronavirus pandemic, a core group of rough sleepers with serious mental health and addiction issues remain on Melbourne’s inner-city streets. Now, welfare agencies are struggling to cope.
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Welfare agencies are struggling to cope with the needs of dozens of homeless people who have refused free hotel stays during the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 200 rough sleepers have been put up in hotels funded by state taxpayers, but a core group of up to 30 people with serious mental health and addiction issues are still on inner city streets.
Most of these people would normally seek shelter at the Salvation Army’s night cafe in Bourke St, but pandemic restrictions have forced its closure.
Head of the Salvos’ Project 614 welfare program Major Brendan Nottle said he could understand why some people couldn’t believe that rough sleepers were refusing free accommodation and meals.
“But when you sit down with those people you understand very clearly that there are some serious and complex issues at work there, and mental health is a significant one,” he said. “Some people actually told us that they couldn’t go into a room and stay there because it played havoc with their mental health.”
Maj Nottle said the issue showed that simply providing a bed for someone did not solve the homelessness problem, especially those with severe issues.
“Various people talk about ending homelessness with shelter and we need that vision, but we also need to remember that it’s a whole range of supports that need to be wrapped around that housing,” he said.
Maj Nottle said the Salvos were trying to help the core group as best they could, and the planned reopening of the Bourke St day cafe this week would be positive.
A Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman said the state government had spent $25 million to ensure anyone experiencing homelessness got temporary housing, with outreach teams encouraging people to take up services.
“For rough sleepers who don’t take up these offers, there is a co-ordinated response across mental health, alcohol and drugs, and other services to provide them with a range of services they might need during this time,” she said.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the City of Melbourne was working with the government, welfare agencies and businesses to provide hotel stays for rough sleepers from around the state.
“The small number of people who remain on the streets are being offered care and assistance each day,” she said.
More than 4500 people have been given emergency housing across Victoria.
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