Homeless moved on ahead of Paniyiri festival

Dozens of people living in tents in Brisbane’s Musgrave Park have been relocated, four weeks out from the Paniyiri Greek Festival.

More than 50 people living in tents in Musgrave Park have been relocated to motels, four weeks out from the Paniyiri Greek Festival.

However the move has been met with backlash, with advocates concerned those once sleeping rough will be forced back to the streets after the festival.

On Wednesday, a large number of tents were moved from Musgrave Park. Within the last two weeks Micah Project said 55 people had been moved into motels. By Thursday afternoon there were only seven remaining tents.

Tents in Musgrave Park in West End. Picture: Lachie Millard

Feeding 4101 founder Rhiannon Ellis said she was incredibly concerned people had been housed into temporary accomodation because they did a survey across Musgrave Park a few weeks ago and 100 per cent of the people there wanted permanent accommodation.

“A lot of people were offered permanent accommodation last year, which was great,” she said.

“So we thought that that would be the case again this year so it was quite disheartening and quite disappointing to learn that people were being placed into four weeks of temporary accommodation.

“It will be super traumatic to them to be safe and secure for the first time in a long time and then be potentially exited back onto the streets.”

Last year tents were moved only the week before the festival with The Courier-Mail also revealing people were moved from the park ahead of the festival and were forced into tight, halfway houses, paying up to $360 a week.

Paniyiri Greek Festival will be held on May 18 and 19. Picture: Patrick Woods

Greens Councillor for the Gabba Ward Trina Massey said there was a grave concern people would be housed in temporary accommodation that would not suit them.

“I am thankful people are housed, I am concerned they aren’t being housed permanently,” she said.

“And we should make sure that we apply as much pressure for permanent housing as possible for these rough sleepers, some of whom have been in that path for over two years.”

But Micah Projects chief executive Karyn Walsh said those people would not be “turfed out” after the festival instead being placed in temporary accommodation while they triage the best solution.

The festival attracts thousands of people on each day of the two-day event. Picture: Peter Wallis

Ms Walsh said a lot of the people moved didn’t want to sleep in the park anymore.

“We’ve been moving people into temporary accommodation and working towards them getting a permanent house,” she said.

“So we’ve paid for them to be in some motels but we are keeping on working for them to get them into allocation for housing.

“It just helps us triage a bit to work out what’s the best housing solution rather than rushing people into one.

“We are definitely working closely with the Department of Housing on where people will go next.

“They’re not going to be turfed out after the festival. We are talking about a pathway to a permanent solution.”

Tents in Musgrave Park in West End. Picture Lachie Millard

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said their team on the ground had helped more than 520 people in inner-Brisbane find a safe place to stay.

“The team is at Musgrave Park every day, with a van set up throughout the day to provide outreach, support and offer accommodation,” Ms Scanlon said.

“We work with people to secure accommodation that suits their needs, including temporary and long-term, and will work with them to find longer term housing options.”

Paniyiri Greek Festival chairman of the volunteer committee Chris Kazonis said homelessness was a complex issue but everyone involved in the festival was hoping to find solutions.

“The volunteer committee is working with the Brisbane City Council and the Department of Housing and the charity groups behind the scenes to support their plans in taking care of the people who are sleeping in the park,” he said.

“We are awaiting these instructions from these State Government and Local Government authorities.

A Brisbane City Council spokeswoman said they had absolutely no intention to ask anyone to leave the park during this time.

Originally published as Homeless moved on ahead of Paniyiri festival