The results of a survey of 148 homeless people in the Upper Mountains and western Sydney regions last week revealed an alarmingly high rate of life-threatening diseases and untreated injuries and conditions, prompting renewed calls for all levels of governments to act.
A team of volunteers collected data for the homelessness vulnerability index survey in various Upper Mountains locations between May 7-10 on behalf of the Nepean-Blacktown Regional Taskforce on Homelessness.
The taskforce, with the support of Wentworth Community Housing and organisations like Katoomba’s Glue Factory youth service, will use the survey’s findings to back its campaign for funding for ‘50 Lives 50 Homes’ — a project to build on the highly successful Project 40 initiative that provided public housing to 40 homeless people identified as being in urgent need.
Forty five per cent of those surveyed were living rough (for example, in cars and squats) and 42 per cent were considered to be at greater risk of early death due to having multiple risk factors associated with long term homelessness.
Sixty two people were the victim of a violent attack since being homeless, 46 were admitted to hospital within the last 12 months and 67 reported a dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance abuse.
Taskforce chair Felicity Reynolds said the survey and campaign for 50 Lives 50 Homes is a practical way to save lives by by providing housing and ongoing support to homeless people at most risk of life-threatening conditions.
“It is time for politicians to show leadership and make more houses available for people living on the margins,” she said.
Dianne Simek from Wentworth Community Housing said the rigidity of current public housing policies meant many long term homeless people are overlooked.
She said people needed to be aware of policy changes introduced this year that require those on the public housing waiting list to update their details or renew contact with the Department of Housing.
Laura Holmes — a success story of Project 40 who until March 2010 was homeless in the Blue Mountains for nearly three years — said only the stability of having access to a home gave her the confidence to rebuild her life.
“You can’t put yourself in touch with reality when you are living in chaos and sometimes the first knock back [for a public housing place] can take away all your confidence,” she said.
“The biggest thing in terms of advice I have for people living rough is to seek adequate support systems from people that will help them.”
