Hostile architecture: Freo council’s potty idea to deter rough sleepers from iconic strip

A Perth council is using potted plants in their battle against rough sleepers occupying an iconic tourist attraction.

The City of Fremantle has placed two large lemon trees in pots in the entrance to the former Hungry Jacks site along the popular Cappuccino Strip to deter rough sleepers from setting up camp in the doorway.

Two large potted lemon trees are being used to deter rough sleepers along Fremantle’s iconic Cappuccino Strip.Credit: Roel Loopers

Local Roel Loopers said the site had become a blight on the landscape but called for a better solution than hostile architecture, a style of urban design that prevents rough sleepers from using public spaces in ways that disturb the public.

“The site has been an eyesore, with two to three men occupying the space the whole day and making it look very messy,” he said.

“However these people need a place to sleep.

“As one of the homeless men said to me, they keep pushing us away everywhere, so it is just becoming a circle.

“We move on, get moved on, but there are no real solutions to offer us a place to sleep. It’s a real conundrum.”

In a statement provided to WAtoday, the city said it had temporarily placed two planter boxes in the doorway of the old Hungry Jack’s on South Terrace in response to concerns from the community.

“This location has been used as a shelter for some time, with occupants consistently declining access to state government and not-for-profit support services. There has also been a recent increase in anti-social behaviour at this location,” the statement read.

“The building, on the Cappuccino Strip, has been the focus of recent attention, with requests from local business owners, for the City to do more to address the situation. The temporary measure was undertaken in consultation with the Melbourne-based property owner.”

A rough sleeper in the historic West End of Fremantle.Credit: Roel Loopers

The local government said it was constantly balancing the desires of the community with compassion for the most vulnerable when making decisions and would continue to advocate for and work with appropriate agencies to ensure there was continued support.

“The City of Fremantle actively works with agencies and the WA Police to assist people who are experiencing homelessness by connecting them with local services.”

Shelter WA chief executive Kath Snell said it was always concerning when local governments design or intervene in public spaces in a way that prohibited people experiencing homelessness from using a public place.

“Shelter WA does not condone the use of hostile architecture or other policy responses that are not person-centred, or evidence driven but simply reduce the appearance of homelessness by moving it to another area,” she said.

“We encourage local governments to work with us, and with State Government to tackle the root causes, provide assistance and ultimately work to end homelessness.

“Additionally, we advocate for more Safe Night Spaces across the state, so people who are sleeping rough have a specific safe place to go at night where they can also be connected with the services they need.”

Snell added everyone experiencing homelessness should be treated with dignity and respect.

“People experiencing homelessness are also members of the local community who rely on public spaces to rest or stay warm and dry overnight. Let’s not forget that everyone needs a place to call home, and until we can achieve that, being moved on from public areas, is not a solution,” she said.

Greens MLC and former Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt said these kinds of hostile techniques against rough sleepers simply don’t work and only pushed people to another doorway without addressing the root cause of the crisis.

“WA has the highest level of rough-sleeping in the country and the responsibility for this homelessness crisis we’re experiencing - not just in the City of Fremantle, but right across the state - lies firmly with the state government, yet it is local governments that are bearing the brunt of it,” he said.

“Western Australia has a social housing crisis that has been getting worse for years ... it is clear we need urgent investment in crisis accommodation and wraparound supports to reduce the presence of rough sleeping in city centres.”

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