Homelessness

• Persons living in improvised dwellings, tents or sleeping out (rough sleepers)
• Persons in supported accommodation for the homeless
• Persons staying temporarily with other households
• Persons living in board houses
• Persons in other temporary lodgings
• Persons living in severely crowded dwellings.

There is not a single cause of homelessness, but it is rarely a lifestyle choice. Homelessness can be the result of a single event, or a series of small events that slowly lead to homelessness. Some of the main reasons why people are homeless:

• High cost of housing 
• Relationship breakdown
• Financial difficulties
• Unemployment, underemployment and insecure employment
• Family and domestic violence
• Poor mental or physical health
• Substance abuse
• Cultural disadvantage (e.g. culturally and linguistic diverse people are at greater risk of becoming homeless).

Homeless people are one of the most vulnerable communities in Australia. They have the same entitlement as every other member of the public to access public places, services and goods, and to participate in public activities or events. Homeless people should be treated respectfully and should be able to access to all the services they require.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 116,427 Australians are homeless, 9,022 of which live in Western Australia, and 90 in the City of South Perth. It means that 0.48% of Australians are homeless in a national level, while the Western Australian average is 0.35%, and the City of South Perth’s is 0.21% (ABS, 2016).

Anecdotal evidence from community members and service providers suggests that the number of people who are experiencing homelessness in our community is increasing (End Homelessness WA, 2018). Furthermore, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may have accelerated this trend.

Supporting and connected communities are more resilient and could better address and prevent homelessness. Both prevention and response to homelessness needs a whole-of-society approach in which people helping other people is used as a powerful source of change.

What can the community do?

• Treat homeless people with dignity, as homelessness can happen to anyone
• Notify the City’s Community Development Team on 9474 0777, as this will assist us to provide helpful information about support services and it will also provide the City information on the prevalence of homelessness in the local area
• Contact the WA Police on 131 444 if you believe someone may be experiencing a mental health crisis or if you witness anti-social behaviour, intimidation, public disturbance, assault, threats, or alcohol and drugs abuse. Use 000 for life threatening situations 
• Consider volunteering at any organisation helping homeless in Western Australian. You can find volunteer vacancies at Volunteering WA
• Consider donating to a charity that provides emergency relief and outreach services for homeless people. This helps to discourage people who are begging. Local streets can be a popular location for people to beg (not all people begging are homeless, and not all people experiencing homelessness will beg), but it is more effective to support established charities who provide emergency relief and assistance