MORE than 500 homeless people sought help from ac.care’s Limestone Coast Homelessness Service in the past 12 months, up 10pc on the number of clients the charity supported in the previous year.
The Mount Gambier-based welfare agency has released its annual report to coincide with National Homelessness Week and the figures reveal a lack of affordable housing and show drug, alcohol and mental health problems continue to contribute to homelessness in the Blue Lake city and wider community.
Between July 2017 and June 2018, ac.care worked with 520 homeless people, including a staggering 384 new clients.
“Everyone needs a home, but the current housing system does not work for many people who experience homelessness because there is a shortage of affordable housing, compounded by poverty, family violence, mental health and relationship breakdown,” chief executive Shane Maddocks explained.
Of the 520 people who requested support, 13pc identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, 15pc were young adults between 18 and 24 years old, 49pc were 25 to 34 years of age and 32pc were under 18, including children in families.
Half of the people faced a housing crisis (eviction), 20pc presented to ac.care with inadequate dwelling conditions and 11pc were without a home as they transitioned from custodial arrangements.
Almost a quarter of people were “sleeping rough” and 18pc were couch surfing at the time they met with an ac.care worker.
Homelessness services manager Trish Spark said the number of clients experiencing mental health issues had increased, reflecting a lack of local mental health services.
“Last year 34pc of people impacted by homelessness experienced mental health issues and sadly this year that figure has increased to 41pc,” Ms Spark said.
“This again points to a lack of mental health services in the community.
“As a community, we can reduce homelessness statistics if we can get early help for people if they have mental health issues and work across government, agencies, schools and businesses to make this a whole of community strategy.
“This will ensure people who live here have access to safe and stable housing, mental health resources, counselling support and an opportunity to thrive.”
Mr Maddocks called on the community to come together to help solve the city’s homelessness crisis.
“If governments, non-government organisations, charities, businesses and the broader community work together, we can solve this,” he said.
“Community members can help by donating money or time – perhaps by mentoring a person affected by homelessness or through inclusive activities such as sport, providing work experience, participating as presenters in our Tenancy Education (TED) Program, volunteering or perhaps becoming a foster carer or respite carer to ensure children have a safe place to live.
“Landlords could also look at making their rental homes affordable by reducing the rent for people on low incomes.
“Our staff at ac.care are always interested in your ideas, so please contact us so we can workshop ideas together.”
ac.care provides short-term, emergency and transitional accommodation and long-term housing.
The charity also provides support to clients to sustain their tenancy or prevent tenancy failure, advocates on behalf of the client, provides laundry/shower facilities, material aid/brokerage, meals, transport, living skills/personal development, counselling services, health/medical services and financial advice.
The organisation is hosting a free breakfast this Friday at the ac.care Mount Gambier Community Centre at 22 Ferrers Street from 8.30am until 10am.
“Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend – it’s an opportunity for people to learn about what we do and the services we offer,” Ms Spark said.
“It is also a free breakfast for anyone who might be hungry.”
