Damning report reveals girl was ‘locked out’ of homelessness system

The father of a girl forced to sleep on the street after she was let down by the homelessness services system fears it is too late for her.

Some specialist homelessness services in NSW are imposing conditions of access that are a barrier for people with complex needs, a damning report has found.

NSW ombudsman Paul Miller found the state government had provided inadequate rules and support to the specialist services concerning when it was appropriate to exclude or evict a homeless person.

The review was launched after a complaint about a homeless girl, known as Anna, who was evicted by multiple services, and then pre-emptively banned by others due to her history of violent behaviour.

She often either slept on the street or in hospital.

Mr Miller said Anna was effectively locked out of the homelessness system and her case highlighted broader issues.

Another girl, aged 17 and who cannot be named, was similarly let down multiple times by homelessness providers.

Like Anna, the system has seen the teenager black-listed and left to fend for herself on the streets.

The girl has a drug problem, complex mental health issues and a physical health condition that means she is incredibly vulnerable.

Youths have been left vulnerable from the failing system. Picture: Generic / iStock

Her father said she had been banned from most accommodation because she had a drug problem, and yet she could not get the involuntary inpatient care she needed to tackle it.

“This report highlights a lot of the problems I have been calling out,” her father said.

“My complaints about this failing system are justified by this report.

“It’s all there in black and white.

“But to be honest, it may be too late for my daughter.

“She’s been let down so many times and is very traumatised.”

The father said every day he expected a knock on the door from police to say she was dead.

“She has been put in compromising positions, she’s been assaulted and her life has been put at risk,” he said.

“I’ve sent out 160 unanswered emails to everyone from the Prime Minister to the NSW Premier, DCJ, health minister and the children’s commissioner, and no one has done anything of use.”

Anna was forced to sleep on the street. Picture: Generic / iStock

The report revealed 2839 people were turned away from temporary accommodation in 2020/21.

“Specialist homelessness services are designed both to assist people to deal with their immediate needs and to address the underlying factors that contribute to their homelessness,” Mr Miller said.

“It is therefore vital that there are robust and comprehensive rules to govern decisions about access to SHS (specialist homelessness services) for some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in NSW.”

Some key findings included:

• Homeless people can be excluded from government-supplied, temporary motel-style accommodation for up to one year;
• Gaps, waiting lists and service shortages in the system affect access to specialist services; and
• There is insufficient oversight and public reporting by the department about homeless people who are denied access to services.

Mr Miller made a series of recommendations, including publicly reporting on the number of homeless people subject to exclusion, eviction and withdrawal of services, along with the reasons and outcomes.

He also recommended regular auditing of policies and practices, publishing information annually about exclusions from temporary accommodation, and setting a timeframe for public reporting on outcomes data for homeless people.