Melbourne homeless crisis: Anger at proposed laws to crackdown on inner-city camps
A NEW report has revealed overwhelming and angry opposition to Melbourne City Council’s proposed crackdown on inner-city homeless camps.
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A NEW report has revealed overwhelming and angry opposition to Melbourne City Council’s proposed crackdown on inner-city camps.
New homeless bylaws that would effectively ban rough sleeping in the city were put forward by Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and supported five-four by the council last month.
But more than 2500 submissions have been made to Town Hall in response, with about 84 per cent opposing the planned changes.
Opponents had a “high degree of moral outrage against the City of Melbourne,” a report of the submissions said, with many people calling for compassionate leadership.
The proposed bylaws would change the definition of camping, confiscate unattended belongings and force people to pay $388 to retrieve their possessions from the council.
Those who supported the bylaw proposals had concerns about drunken behaviour, open drug taking and aggressive begging.
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Input was received from residents, visitors, workers, businesses and homeless people and their advocates. Many people believed it was an “informal referendum on the homeless”.
Business owners expressed the need for more housing and support, rather than simply “moving the problem”. Most residents also were empathetic to homeless people.
Some respondents offered solutions to the council, including using empty buildings in the city for housing, extra drop-in centres with showers and lockers and more support for people with mental illness.
One respondent said the council wanted to hide the problem to win the world’s most liveable city award.
Lawyer groups such as Legal Aid, Youth Law Centre and Clayton Utz said the local law would be in breach of the Human Rights Charter.
Charities and support agencies including the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Sacred Heart Mission, the Salvation Army and Melbourne City Mission all opposed the proposed laws.
A separate report prepared by Resolve Community Consulting canvassed opinions of people who had experienced homelessness.
Most respondents said the proposed changes would only worsen their plight. Most homeless people only sleep rough because they had no choice and felt safer in the city where they could access basic services.
“Homelessness is not a choice for most people. It’s not a disease,’’ one person said.
A council committee was hearing public submissions today and next Thursday before making recommendations back to councillors.