Toilet, shower and laundry facilities for homeless people provided by Earth Recovery Australia at Junction 142 in Katoomba, is the latest service to close due to the flow-on effects from the coronavirus.
Earth Recovery Australia director Justin Morrissey said they had been forced to close this facility and the provision of food rescue parcels and Sunday lunches, about a fortnight ago. These services were run by volunteers and a few paid staff, whose wages are covered by money made from Junction 142's op shop and market, which have been unable to occur due to coronavirus restrictions.
Mr Morrissey said they had been seeing up to 50 visits a week to use the facilities, and hundreds took food parcels each week containing fresh fruit, vegies and bread collected from Woolworths and Coles.
He said it was difficult to think about how the homeless and vulnerable in the Blue Mountains community might be surviving without their service.
"Of course we are concerned. It's horrible," he said.
But on Tuesday night, council threw them a potential lifeline.
Ward one councillor Kerry Brown asked for council to approach the Earth Recovery board, to resource their operations so the facilities could remain open for the homeless during the coronavirus shutdown.
"I hope that council will work with the Earth Recovery board immediately to have the facilities open for as much of the day and night as possible," she said.
"Right now we are in a crisis that is much more serious for homeless people than those of us with homes to hunker down in."
Cr Brown had found human faeces and paper towels in a garden bed while she was pruning lavender on Katoomba Street last week.
"I was angry until it occurred to me that the person had gone somewhere that was tucked away, not on the pavement to be anti-social," she said.
"It might not have been a homeless person who was responsible, but it made me realise how limited options were for them."
Cr Brown's request was included in motion about homelessness brought on by ward four Liberal councillor Brendan Christie's request for a report on the issue. Council will also host a homelessness information portal on their website, advocate with governments to address issues linked with homelessness and seek funding to work with other groups to co-ordinate the provision of essential services for homeless people such as laundry, showers, storage for personal belongings and 24-hour access to drinking water, with a report to come back to council within six months. The motion was supported by all councillors.
"I still feel there's so much more council could do and definitely believe we have a very long way to go," Cr Christie said.
He would like to see blessing boxes - containing essential items like toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, socks, gloves, scarves, non-perishable food etc - pop up throughout the Mountains and for council to waive any fees or regulations that could get in the way.
"I would happily work with any business, community group, church or individual who would support doing this," Cr Christie said.
"Homelessness comes in a variety of ways in the Mountains. From sleeping rough on the streets, to couch surfing and bush camping.
"In the lead up to winter and now with a global pandemic, I'm really concerned about those currently experiencing homelessness and how we can prevent it further," he said.
The council report said there were 893 social housing properties in the Blue Mountains and 445 people on the waiting list, with waiting periods up to 10 years. In 2019 there were 3146 people registered as without housing, or being in rental stress, in the Blue Mountains.
