Government leaves Coast homeless in the cold
Fri 04 November 2011
Anjelica Kilpatrick, Bachelor of Journalism
Volunteer organisations are not receiving adequate supplies to look after South East Queensland citizens, and consequently many people are being forced to live on the streets.
The QCOSS Regional Homelessness Profile revealed more people in South East Queensland slept in shelters, refuges and on the streets than any other region in Australia.
The QCOSS Regional Homelessness Profile conducted in May, 2011, showed there were an estimated total of 2815 homeless people living on the Sunshine Coast.
Charitable organisation and refuges do great work for Sunshine Coast’s homeless, but Integrated Family and Youth Services Spokesperson Mr Robert Brameell said the financial support they received was not what they needed to keep the homeless fed, clothed and sheltered.
Out of this number, an estimated 373 live in “improvised dwellings” and resided on the streets.
State Minister for Housing Karen Struthers recently announced through the Queensland Government website that a $29m boost to funding for housing services for Queensland would become available.
Funding was given to towns surrounding the Sunshine Coast, including Brisbane and Toowoomba, but did not reach those living on the Coast itself.
Integrated Family and Youth Services (IFYS), located on the Sunshine Coast and Caboolture, provided crisis shelters and a transitional housing program for those in need of refuge.
The website for IFYS said the core objectives of their service were “to provide crisis and transitional support to young people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, and to move them towards independence”.
Most of the funding provided to IFYS came from the Federal Governments Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) and Crisis Assistance Program (CAP).
Although IFYS relied heavily on government funding, Mr Brameell said there should be more of an emphasis on the prevention of homelessness.
“Homelessness is not just a point in someone’s life, it is a continuum,” Mr Brameell said.
“Extra funding is nice, but just throwing money at the problem is not going to solve the problem.”
Mr Brameell believed there should be more focus on reconnecting those who had “disengaged” from their families and the community.
“This is especially the case for youths who disengage from school,” Mr Brameell said.
“Research has shown disengagement from school can lead to disengagement from family, a common factor in homelessness.”
Child Safety Officer Jennice Evans believed that the welfare of those struggling to cope with everyday living and costs should not be put solely on the government, but on society as a whole.
Ms Evans said the risk of becoming welfare dependent was higher among youths who did not receive enough support, and could lead to more serious issues.
“There is a real risk of becoming a welfare state and developing dependencies on government programs, funding and financial support, which can only lead to further societal issues,” Ms Evans said.
“Children and teenagers must be cared for and supported to reach their full potential.
“If this cannot happen due to family dysfunction and break down then it is the responsibility of a whole of government and community response to assist these young people to achieve to their full potential and be in a safe and supportive environment to adult hood.”
Ms Evans said teenagers forced to live on the streets due to full capacity in shelters were susceptible to becoming involved in dangerous activities.
“Accommodation services are usually at full capacity leaving youth to 'live rough' on the streets or having to become involved in prostitution or exploitation by others to obtain shelter,” Ms Evans said.
“Most young people of this age group will often refuse engagement with Child Safety or if they engage will refuse placement with foster care.
“They are the most vulnerable and at risk children in our community and without resources from government and community change is unable to occur for these children.”
Government funding was vital in the plight to keep people off the streets, but Ms Evans said the funding organisations on the Sunshine Coast receive was insufficient.
“At this time there are limited resources to meet the need of our homeless young people from 12 to 16-years-of-age,” Ms Evans said.
“More funding is required to develop services and supported residential accommodation that can give these young people a chance to reside in a safe and supported environment.
“Here they can remain close to family, peers and the education system they may have disengaged or be disengaging from.”
Ms Evans said more funding from the government would make it easier for organisations to “meet the diverse needs of this vulnerable section of our society”.
“They deserve respect and respect builds dignity, confidence and eventually the desire to achieve change,” Ms Evans said.
Image(s) designed by Anjelica Kilpatrick