THE plight of Australia’s homeless and socially excluded has been overlooked in the current Federal election campaign, St Vincent de Paul Society’s national council chief executive officer Dr John Falzon said.
“Australia has survived the Global Financial Crisis and continues to have a strong economy,” Dr Falzon said.
“We still, however, live with the fruits of years of neglect when it comes to the people who are pushed to the margins.
“The Federal election provides a good opportunity to reflect on what really matters to the people of Australia.
“For those who care about fairness this has to include the plight of people experiencing homelessness.”
Dr Falzon expressed his concern during National Homeless Persons’ Week (August 2-8).
Similar concerns were echoed by many during the week including Australian Catholic Social Justice Council chairman Bishop Christopher Saunders and Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) president Karyn Walsh.
Bishop Saunders said National Homeless Persons’ Week offered major parties “the opportunity to commit to making a real difference for the 105,000 Australians who are homeless on any given night”.
Ms Walsh noted on launching QCOSS’ policy paper on homelessness that Queensland has the second-highest rate of homelessness in Australia, with the latest figures available showing “there were 26,782 people homeless in Queensland”.
Dr Falzon said the Federal Government had made some progress “in the direction of addressing homelessness and social exclusion”.
“However, we have also seen the emergence of policies such as compulsory income management,” he said.
“This is supported by both sides of politics and punishes people because of their race or their class.
“The members of the St Vincent de Paul Society are deeply troubled by attitudes of political leaders when they demonise people doing it tough whether they be asylum seekers, young unemployed, sole parents or people experiencing homelessness.”
Bishop Saunders said “support is particularly needed for communities throughout the nation where homelessness is reaching crisis proportions”, mentioning in particular the forced removal of indigenous people from Broome.
“Last week I witnessed the forced removal of indigenous people from the sand dunes of Kennedy Hill in Broome,” he said.
“In the process, possessions such as tents, blankets and food and medication were taken away.
“To witness homeless people losing the only shelter they had makes me question Australia’s resolve to address homelessness.
“When I think of how indigenous Aust-ralians are already over-represented in every category of homelessness, the events of last week highlight the need for a more targeted approach to addressing homelessness for particular groups who are most affected.
“At the very least, a practical response to homelessness must bring a level of compassion that ensures the dignity of vulnerable people is respected at all times.”
The bishop said the strategy of moving people on was no solution.
“An important challenge for Australian communities is to be mindful that those people who are moved on may be ‘out of sight’ but they remain in great need,” he said.
Ms Walsh said at the QCOSS launch of the policy paper on homelessness, the growing impact on families was of particular concern.
“Homelessness among families increased 16.8 per cent from 2001 to 2006 and anecdotal evidence indicates this trend has continued,” she said.
She said social housing was the key to preventing and providing a pathway out of homelessness – but there were more than 22,000 Queensland households waiting for social housing.
National Homeless Persons’ Week is run by the federally funded Homelessness Australia organisation, the national peak body working to prevent and respond to homelessness in Australia.
The organisation’s campaign focuses on four groups emerging overwhelmingly as homeless – women and children, young people, families and over-55s.
Homelessness Australia’s sixth national conference “Towards Ending Homelessness by 2020” will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from September 1-3.
