Deputy Mayor, Chris Holstein, has achieved unanimous support from his fellow Central Coast Councillors, for the Coast to have its own assertive outreach team to tackle the issue of homelessness and the increasing number of people sleeping rough in Council parks, reserves and in cars.
Council also resolved to seek support from local Members of Parliament and to advise all local non-government service agencies of the request and seek their support. Finally, Council moved to invite the NSW Minister for Family and Community Services and Social Housing, Ms Pru Goward, to the Central Coast and advocate for an assertive outreach pilot program to be located on the Coast. Clr Holstein said one of the issues becoming more prevalent was that of people sleeping rough and there were now visible mini-tent cities on the Peninsula and in a reserve close to the Gosford Chamber. “Council rangers are limited in what they can do,” Clr Holstein said. “They can issue a fine or tell people to move on, but they then move into another location,” he said. Non-government organisations, including Coast Shelter, have been trying to address the issues, but the recent NSW Government announcement to spend $1b on homeless services was an opportunity, according to Clr Holstein.
He described the assertive outreach service that had been used in Sydney’s Martin Place tent city, in 2017, to intensively assist people by giving them access to representatives from a number of government departments in the same place at the same time. Assertive outreach work was being introduced in more locations, and had an 85 per cent success rate, Clr Holstein said. “Assertive outreach will mean we get a better result,” he said. Mayor Jane Smith said Council will continue to take part in any actions that are within its jurisdiction in regard to illegal camping and caring for these individuals.
“This is a real issue on the Coast and we must show compassion, understanding and care, for these most vulnerable members of our community,” Mayor Smith said. “Council will work with all levels of government and key community organisations to find a real and lasting solution to this growing problem on the Coast,” she added. Speaking in favour of the motion, Clr Richard Mehrtens said: “I do think there has been a dereliction of duty from State Government on funding levels. “People are dying on public reserves and on council reserves at the back of car parks in Woy Woy, we had that just two weeks ago,” Clr Mehrtens said. Clr Rebecca Gale Collins, who proposed inviting Minister Goward to the Central Coast during the debate, said: “As someone that has worked with people with mental health issues and homelessness, I support the motion “I look forward to inviting the Minister to the Central Coast as we advocate for the outreach program,” Clr Gale Collins said.
In response to questions from Councillors during the debate, Director of Connected Communities, Ms Julie Vaughan, said members of her department sit on homeless agency groups and coordination committees. “Agencies are at maximum capacity,” Ms Vaughan said. “We have developed an emergency response card which can provide food and emergency facilities, so that homeless people can access emergency services,” she said. “Rangers often carry the cards with them and will hand that information out. “The issue of homelessness increasing is certainly prevalent in our region,” she said. Clr Jillian Hogan also spoke in favour of the motion. “One of the reasons I put my hand up to be on Council is that I actually work in the community and I am one of the few people on this Council that does. “In the last 10 years, we have seen a spike in everything from homelessness, to drug and alcohol abuse, to young people living on the streets, and domestic violence out of control,” Clr Hogan said.
“You talk about Pru Goward and you talk about Family and Community services, and there isn’t any increase in funding for generic services. “Pru Goward has been to the Coast and FACs will tell you there is no extra money, they are going through reform. “In 30 years, community centres have had one increase of $10,000, that’s it. “So whilst we were funded to do basket weaving, now we are working with these really, really difficult cases. “It is our women, our women in domestic violence, they are living in cars “Whether they are registered or not, that is not for us to ask. “We are losing our tradies, they are in between jobs because of the casualisation of work, so every day we have a tradie in a truck saying, can I have a shower, can I have clothes, can I wash my face, this is real stuff. “This is stuff that I, my staff and the 50 volunteers see every day of our lives, and they are impacted by it.” Clr Hogan said she wished to commend Council staff for their work to develop an affordable housing strategy.
In closing the debate, Clr Holstein said: “Sleeping rough is growing and becoming a monstrous problem. “I know the rangers work with the not for profits in trying to be socially compassionate and responsive to these individuals,” he said. “If four people died in an accident, be it on Brisbane Water Dve or on Enterprise Dve, there would be a public outcry that there needed to be something done. “If you are homeless and you have issues and you die in a tent in a reserve, you can’t be forgotten and nor can your issues, and it is imperative of us, as Councillors, to ensure the government assists us in giving direction,” he said.
Source: Agenda item 7.2, Jun 12 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting Jackie Pearson, journalist