Melbourne beggars posing as homeless brag about how much they make, says Lord Mayor Robert Doyle

BEGGARS on city streets posing as homeless are bragging about how much they make.

Some Melbourne traders are frustrated at people sleeping in their doorways. Picture: Eugene Hyland

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BEGGARS on city streets posing as homeless are bragging about how much they make.

So says Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, who alerts charities such as the Salvation Army whenever he sees someone sleeping rough in the CBD.

Many homeless people have moved into the CBD from the city fringe because they consider it safer.

But this has become a concern for traders and their customers, who are confronted by people sleeping in doorways.

Last year, council commissioned consultants to work with traders.

However, Cr Doyle said a Salvos’ survey had found many were not genuinely homeless, but were simply beggars.

Homeless people living on steps of construction site in Melbourne’s CBD.

“They’d come in and set up camp, and treat it like a business. You can find them boasting on social media about how much they’re making,” he said.

Salvos leader Major Brendan Nottle, a former Melburnian of the Year, said a handful had been identified as not genuinely homeless: “They set up mattresses in doorways with a bowl and say they are homeless, but they have accommodation.”

Maj Nottle said the main areas for sleeping rough in the CBD were Elizabeth, Flinders and Swanston streets.

Cr Doyle said the number of homeless waxed and waned.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with a homeless man in Melbourne. Picture: David Caird.

He said council supported groups providing outreach programs to homeless people.

“Any time I see one, I ring either the Melbourne City Mission or the Salvos … to try to get them some primary health care, get them fed, clothed and washed,” he said.

On the matter of city safety, council’s just released 2016-17 budget does not include specific funding for new CCTV cameras.

Asked if he wanted more cameras, the Lord Mayor said he would take police advice.

“If they say there are spots there that we really need to consider, then it will come before council and we’ll consider it,” Cr Doyle said.

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