Based on our extensive work with homeless
people and international evidence on ways to address chronic homelessness, the
Strategy proposes four priority actions to achieve this challenging goal:
- a focus on vulnerable and chronically homeless rough sleepers
with complex problems such as alcohol and drug use and or mental illness; - compassionate and balanced management of our streets, parks and
other public spaces; - supporting innovative services which have been shown to work
elsewhere; and - establishing targets and measuring outcomes.
While State and Federal Government have
primary responsibility for homeless services, the City has embraced its ethical
responsibility and its practical opportunities to help homeless people. Many of
our staff come into direct contact with people who are sleeping rough and inner
city residents can experience significant impacts on amenity and use of public
space.
The City implemented its first
comprehensive Homelessness Strategy in 2000, concentrating on providing
services, local grants and working with other service providers and government.
We currently provide three services for homeless people:
- The Outreach Service, jointly run with the Department of
Housing, which aims to get people into accommodation and receive the
services they need; - the Homeless Information Centre, a statewide telephone service
receiving between 40,000 and 50,000
thousand calls a year; and - a brokerage program that can provide short term accommodation
and other help.
The City also provides special training for
our staff, police and volunteers who come into direct contact with homeless
people. Our new public space liaison officer will support existing work to
ensure that areas used by homeless people are clean and that referral to other
services is prompt.
The City will continue advocating on behalf
of homeless people and working with other agencies. This includes developing an
accord with mobile food services to provide for better coordination and more
opportunities for helping people out of homelessness.
The draft Strategy is available from: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/MeetingsAndCommittees/2006/Committees/041206/cultural.asp