Homeless flood out of pandemic accommodation and onto streets
Melbourne streets, particularly Elizabeth and Swanston streets, will soon see an influx people sleeping rough. Here’s why.
Victoria
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Welfare agencies are reporting a spike in rough sleepers on CBD streets as more homeless people leave hotel accommodation provided during the pandemic.
Some of those leaving are resisting offers of rooming house stays while others have acute mental health issues making it difficult to house them.
Salvation Army Project 614 director Major Brendan Nottle said there had been an increase in the number of people sleeping in the CBD, especially in areas like Elizabeth and Swanston streets.
“A lot of that has been driven by people who’ve been offered long-term housing options because current hotel accommodation is coming to an end,” he said.
“But they regard the options as being inappropriate, so they are returning to the streets.”
“For example, some rooming houses have a poor reputation as places of violence and drug activity”.
Major Nottle said there was also a rising number of rough sleepers with several mental health issues and even post-traumatic stress disorder who had refused the free hotel accommodation.
“They can’t be around other people because it triggers their issues and they get concerned about their own psychological welfare,” he said.
Major Nottle said the Salvos, Victoria Police and the City of Melbourne worked together on Operation Protocol in which rough sleepers were given health and welfare services and help to find longer-term housing.
“But there are limited housing options for those people, and while the state government has developed a solution it will take time to implement,” he said.
“Building new housing is the right thing to do, but while we’re waiting there’s a shortfall of appropriate options.”
In the November budget, the government announced it would deliver 9300 new social housing units under its $5.3 billion Big Housing Build.
The $150 million From Homeless to a Home package announced last July saw hotel accommodation extended until April 2021 for those yet to be offered alternative housing.
The funding also provided support for 2000 homeless Victorians to access stable, long-term housing.
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