Brisbane weather: Fears for homeless as temperatures plummet

Date
    July 13, 2015


There are concerns for Brisbane's homeless as the city's coldest week of the year coincides with a spike in rough sleepers.   :(

Homeless organisations are preparing extra blankets, swags and support for the city's destitute as they get ready for temperatures to drop as low as six degrees.

Micah Project helps out homeless people throughout Brisbane through programs such as Street To Home and the Brisbane Homelessness Service Centre.
.



CEO Karyn Walsh said the number of rough sleepers the organisation was helping in the Brisbane CBD alone had risen to 33 in recent months, up from a recent low of just 10.


She said the organisation was dealing with about 90 rough sleepers throughout the inner city and estimated there were 100 to 150 people sleeping on the streets within a few kilometres of the CBD at any one time.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics more than 2000 people slept rough in the greater Brisbane area in 2011.


Homeless support organisations are preparing to help keep rough sleepers warm this week.

"The biggest issue is the wind and if it rains, cold and wet is worse for people's health," Ms Walsh said.

"Generally whatever the weather is, it's not always that comfortable sleeping on the street, the cold just makes it more stressful for some people because of their health conditions.

"A lot of people who have been homeless for long periods of time are unwell so obviously cold weather often exacerbates their health conditions."   :(

South-east Queensland's coldest morning is tipped to be Wednesday, with a low of just four degrees forecast for Brisbane.

The bureau is still tipping a low of six degrees on Tuesday.

As the mercury plummets, Brisbane-based not-for-profit Swags for Homeless is preparing for an increase in demand from the many services it supports.

"For the start of the week it's going to be a horror situation," CEO Tony Clark said.

"And we really want to make it clear it's when the public are not prepared, when the homeless are not ready.

"Maybe the police have taken away their blanket, maybe they've lost their blanket and they're unprepared, it's those cold snaps that kill."

Both providers called for more to be done to encourage affordable housing in Brisbane to ease some of the pressure on people at risk of homelessness.

"Overall we'd just like to see the increase of affordable housing so that we can get people off the streets quicker, regardless of the weather," Ms Walsh said.

"I mean there's a lot of housing going up in Brisbane for people who can afford to pay higher rents but there's very little going in for people on low incomes."   :(

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-weather-fears-for-homeless-as-temperatures-plummet-20150713-gi9the.html#ixzz3fovGhRAh

    Australian governments (state and federal) should be totally ashamed that we have so many homeless people who need to sleep rough on the streets. There is more than enough money wasted by politicians and pubic service bureaucrats that could be spent to provide these poor people with somewhere to stay every night - anything has to be better for them than sleeping rough in winter.
    Come on Governments, solve the problem and stop leaving it to volunteer charity organisations to provide blankets, etc.   :(

Commenter 
    John Guru
Location
    Brisbane
Date and time
    July 14, 2015, 8:10AM

wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 10:33am:

Australian governments (state and federal) should be totally ashamed that we have so many homeless people who need to sleep rough on the streets. There is more than enough money wasted by politicians and pubic service bureaucrats that could be spent to provide these poor people with somewhere to stay every night - anything has to be better for them than sleeping rough in winter.     Come on Governments, solve the problem and stop leaving it to volunteer charity organisations to provide blankets, etc.   :( Commenter      John Guru Location     Brisbane Date and time     July 14, 2015, 8:10AM

have you ever wondered why homelessness is a GLOBAL problem?  Is it really all that credible that every government on the planet doesn't care enough to do something about it or is it also possible that the problem is far more complex than the OP suggests.  Between mental illness and drugs problems, many homeless are so for reasons other than they cant find a home.

No sarcasm intended.  It is good to see long not going with the line that "homelessness is a lifestyle choice".

And the Labor Party wants to make it COLDER!!!

stunspore wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 1:08pm:

No sarcasm intended.  It is good to see long not going with the line that "homelessness is a lifestyle choice".

so in your narrow little world NO ONE chooses to live on the streets?  how wrong you are.  And that is part of the reason govts around the world have failed to eliminate homelessness.  Some actually do choose to live this way.

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 4:05pm:

stunspore wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 1:08pm: No sarcasm intended.  It is good to see long not going with the line that "homelessness is a lifestyle choice". so in your narrow little world NO ONE chooses to live on the streets?  how wrong you are.  And that is part of the reason govts around the world have failed to eliminate homelessness.  Some actually do choose to live this way.

Exactly what % of homeless people do you think CHOOSE to be so?

Dsmithy70 wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 4:21pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:05pm: stunspore wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 1:08pm: No sarcasm intended.  It is good to see long not going with the line that "homelessness is a lifestyle choice". so in your narrow little world NO ONE chooses to live on the streets?  how wrong you are.  And that is part of the reason govts around the world have failed to eliminate homelessness.  Some actually do choose to live this way. Exactly what % of homeless people do you think CHOOSE to be so?

not sure.  but feel free to say it doesnt happen.  then explain why people with enough welfare to NOT be on the streets are still there.

Dsmithy70 wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 4:21pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:05pm: stunspore wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 1:08pm: No sarcasm intended.  It is good to see long not going with the line that "homelessness is a lifestyle choice". so in your narrow little world NO ONE chooses to live on the streets?  how wrong you are.  And that is part of the reason govts around the world have failed to eliminate homelessness.  Some actually do choose to live this way. Exactly what % of homeless people do you think CHOOSE to be so?

LW will always find a way to put the blame on the victim.
What the governments should do, is built refuges of last resort, like the hostels, I and many other migrants lived in in the 50,s and 60,s, nothing flash, but at least not on the street.
I wonder if LW is one of those landlords, having housing empty.
If one does choses to live on the street, and accommodation is provided by the government, then he/she has no grounds to complain, and LW should not use them as an excuse. 

hawil wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 5:45pm:

Dsmithy70 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:21pm: longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:05pm: stunspore wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 1:08pm: No sarcasm intended.  It is good to see long not going with the line that "homelessness is a lifestyle choice". so in your narrow little world NO ONE chooses to live on the streets?  how wrong you are.  And that is part of the reason govts around the world have failed to eliminate homelessness.  Some actually do choose to live this way. Exactly what % of homeless people do you think CHOOSE to be so? LW will always find a way to put the blame on the victim. What the governments should do, is built refuges of last resort, like the hostels, I and many other migrants lived in in the 50,s and 60,s, nothing flash, but at least not on the street. I wonder if LW is one of those landlords, having housing empty. If one does choses to live on the street, and accommodation is provided by the government, then he/she has no grounds to complain, and LW should not use them as an excuse.

think what you wil. you will anyhow.  Just explain why people live on the streets for many years with no attempt whatsoever to live anywhere else.  you wont of course.

No need to be afraid, of course.

These people who don't want to rent a room in a lodging house or a boarding house are ALL volunteer al fresco life-stylists.

But damn right the churches and the charities want to spread a 'moral panic' about these Outdoor pioneer types getting a chill - it's all good for business. It increases the amount of sucker donations rolling into their coffers.

... dear o dear o dear ... when will people ever learn?

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 6:20pm:

But damn right the churches and the charities want to spread a 'moral panic' about these Outdoor pioneer types getting a chill - it's all good for business. It increases the amount of sucker donations rolling into their coffers. ... dear o dear o dear ... when will people ever learn?

Haha I think you are onto them, its the same reason the ALP and Greens created an unemployed drug f$cked underclass, its good for business.  ;D

stunspore wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 1:08pm:

No sarcasm intended.  It is good to see long not going with the line that "homelessness is a lifestyle choice".

.. and a cheap way to pick up DSP and pay no net tax etc, without getting a real job and putting in a day's work.....  ;)

double plus good wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 3:40pm:

And the Labor Party wants to make it COLDER!!!

.. the militant Unions are trucking in the ice by the trainload with the help of the outlaw bikie gangs.....   :D  ::)

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 4:46pm:

Dsmithy70 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:21pm: longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:05pm: stunspore wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 1:08pm: No sarcasm intended.  It is good to see long not going with the line that "homelessness is a lifestyle choice". so in your narrow little world NO ONE chooses to live on the streets?  how wrong you are.  And that is part of the reason govts around the world have failed to eliminate homelessness.  Some actually do choose to live this way. Exactly what % of homeless people do you think CHOOSE to be so? not sure.  but feel free to say it doesnt happen.  then explain why people with enough welfare to NOT be on the streets are still there.

Lack of affordable and available accommodation?

innocentbystander. wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 6:27pm:

Haha I think you are onto them, its the same reason the ALP and Greens created an unemployed drug f$cked underclass, its good for business.  ;D

The British have just had a major crack-down on the charities rackets over there.

Grappler Deep State Feller wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 7:25pm:

Lack of affordable and available accommodation?

I myself spent years in the inner-suburban bedsitter lodging houses of Sydney.

There are hundreds of residences in Sydney being paid off by married couples who want to rent one of their spare rooms to help with the expences.   

The only fear the right have for the homeless is that they might be expected
to actually pony-up a few tax-dollars to help fix the problem.

And, they should.

The answers are obvious (the most important ones, at least) - build more public
and community housing projects. And raise social-security payments for sole par-
ents and the unemployed by $100 a week, effective immediately.

It gives them a chance to afford at least somewhere basic while the homes are
being built.

And, as a bonus, it creates jobs for the life of the program.

Almost all homeless people I've known have been homeless either because no-
where was available, or their paltry and parsimonious 'benefit' wouldn't cover
rent.

Kat wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 8:38pm:

The only fear the right have for the homeless is that they might be expected to actually pony-up a few tax-dollars to help fix the problem. And, they should. The answers are obvious (the most important ones, at least) - build more public and community housing projects. And raise social-security payments for sole par- ents and the unemployed by $100 a week, effective immediately. It gives them a chance to afford at least somewhere basic while the homes are being built. And, as a bonus, it creates jobs for the life of the program. Almost all homeless people I've known have been homeless either because no- where was available, or their paltry and parsimonious 'benefit' wouldn't cover rent.

;D ;D ;D

Good post, but ... I still say the vast majority of them are either mentally ill, drunkards, or Outdoor life-stylists who don't like to be penned-in by 4 walls - and don't want to work.

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 8:01pm:

Grappler Deep State Feller wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 7:25pm: Lack of affordable and available accommodation? I myself spent years in the inner-suburban bedsitter lodging houses of Sydney. There are hundreds of residences in Sydney being paid off by married couples who want to rent one of their spare rooms to help with the expences.

Alas, Herbie, not for less than $300 a week in the inner city of Sydney.

They could always move to the inner city of Dubbo or Wagga Wagga, eh?

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 4:46pm:

Dsmithy70 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:21pm: longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:05pm: stunspore wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 1:08pm: No sarcasm intended.  It is good to see long not going with the line that "homelessness is a lifestyle choice". so in your narrow little world NO ONE chooses to live on the streets?  how wrong you are.  And that is part of the reason govts around the world have failed to eliminate homelessness.  Some actually do choose to live this way. Exactly what % of homeless people do you think CHOOSE to be so? not sure.  but feel free to say it doesnt happen.  then explain why people with enough welfare to NOT be on the streets are still there.

Well......well.............well.  I agree with Long Wind.  Ive been out of Law and into the retired days of the Cab Business for a tad over ten years.  Among the highlights of my first day at the Cabbie thing was to meet Max, a homeless bloke who 'lived' at the Nambour Post Office.....that's (the foyer area) where he slept at nights then, and it is where he sleeps now as I type.  He does that because it has security cameras covering him, and that gives him some security.  This Bloke is terrific, would never harm a fly and is as cunning in a street smart sense as you can get.

Every day I drive, early morning at the Rail Rank, there will be Max to greet not only me but also the other Drivers in the Nambour area.  Some shun him, and miss out on learning something about humanity.  That is just petty non malicious bigotted snobbery on their part, and I don't go out of my way to condemn them.  Max has much to offer if you allow him to explain it to you.

He has it all under control.  He is clean.  He washes, and yeas, that will sometimes involve some pretty cold water if the people at the Nambour Showgrounds have discovered how he gets into what they reckon are their secure showers.  He has the cunning lever which opens the Council water taps, so that is never a problem.

Yeas, he is an alcoholic.  Not a drunk.  But, he is able to control and manage that.  He has no refrigerator, yet he will be at the Rail Rank drinking VB cans nicely cold.  The cunning bugger has an arrangement with one of the local butchers who allow him to keep his cans and his perishable food in their fridges, and they are always 'open' well before dawn.

He cooks his own food on an electric frypan.  The bugger has discovered that at ground level on some light poles in the Nambour CBD there are power points which he accesses.  So there you have it.  He is safe, he is clean, and he eats.........at small expense.  All his income goes into buying booze and playing pokies.

My tax dollars were supporting him and his lifestyle until about three years ago.  He then inherited almost $M1 in cash.

He now lives on the income from that cash, and notwithstanding the best endeavours of myself and others, Max wants to stay the way it has always been.

He is a free bird, and he loves it.  Yeas, he is 'homeless' by choice, but he will be the rare exception.

The Govt. needs to supply military tents to set up
tent cities in public parks & portable toilets & shower facilities.
Gas barbeques to cook food too.

We can't leave these people on the streets.

People in overseas refugee camps are better off.

Shame on all Australian Govt.s


SHAME

We need more support workers to advocate for the homeless. A great many of them simply don't have the skills to navigate the housing sector. 

That and more accessible and affordable housing. How many buildings are sitting empty?

And it is not easy to find even cheap rental properties anymore. There is a housing shortage and if yo don't have excellent references, you can forget it.

The waiting list for public housing, even as a priority 1 client, is about 12 years in my state. I imagine it's much more in Sydney or Melbourne.

And it doesn't help that this government keeps slashing the social welfare sector.

Karnal wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 9:29pm:

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 8:01pm: Grappler Deep State Feller wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 7:25pm: Lack of affordable and available accommodation? I myself spent years in the inner-suburban bedsitter lodging houses of Sydney. There are hundreds of residences in Sydney being paid off by married couples who want to rent one of their spare rooms to help with the expences.    Alas, Herbie, not for less than $300 a week in the inner city of Sydney. They could always move to the inner city of Dubbo or Wagga Wagga, eh?

No ... I'm not talking about units. I'm referring to those spare bedrooms with a bed, a table, and a rickety chair. No carpet, no heating or cooling facilities. No food. No cooking facilities. I was in that situation for years - with usually Greek landlords living in the same terraced house with me.

And then .... there's nothing stopping three 'Homeless People' (sic) sharing the rent of a house. I've got one of those places right opposite me here. $100 each per week - with Rental assistance paying $35 of that.

That's how our urban aborigines survive very nicely in their Redfern ghetto ... with the local pubs crowded with them.

mothra wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 12:07am:

And it doesn't help that this government keeps slashing the social welfare sector.

I was happy to read that the Abbott government (or was it in Britain?) have put a stop to the serial racket in which women and their 'partners' pop a new baby year after year as a cash-cow to milk the government of more welfare subsidies.

Two's the limit now.

I personally knew a Yugoslav here who had been on a DSP rort for years while banging his wife to the tune of 12 offspring by the time I moved away. He built a luxurious two-storey mansion all while on Compo, and 'Benefits', and Child Endowment, and a score of other Centrelink rip-offs.

Grappler Deep State Feller wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 7:25pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:46pm: Dsmithy70 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:21pm: longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:05pm: stunspore wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 1:08pm: No sarcasm intended.  It is good to see long not going with the line that "homelessness is a lifestyle choice". so in your narrow little world NO ONE chooses to live on the streets?  how wrong you are.  And that is part of the reason govts around the world have failed to eliminate homelessness.  Some actually do choose to live this way. Exactly what % of homeless people do you think CHOOSE to be so? not sure.  but feel free to say it doesnt happen.  then explain why people with enough welfare to NOT be on the streets are still there. Lack of affordable and available accommodation?

simplistic.  two or three of them together could easily afford to rent a house.

mothra wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 12:07am:

And it doesn't help that this government keeps slashing the social welfare sector.

oh really?  care to identify a single 'cut' nevermind a slash?

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 8:49am:

Grappler Deep State Feller wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 7:25pm: longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:46pm: Dsmithy70 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:21pm: longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:05pm: stunspore wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 1:08pm: No sarcasm intended.  It is good to see long not going with the line that "homelessness is a lifestyle choice". so in your narrow little world NO ONE chooses to live on the streets?  how wrong you are.  And that is part of the reason govts around the world have failed to eliminate homelessness.  Some actually do choose to live this way. Exactly what % of homeless people do you think CHOOSE to be so? not sure.  but feel free to say it doesnt happen.  then explain why people with enough welfare to NOT be on the streets are still there. Lack of affordable and available accommodation? simplistic.  two or three of them together could easily afford to rent a house.

Could afford to perhaps, but not allowed to.

Imagine this scenario

agent......please fill in the rental application

last address....under the Story bridge

reference....have none

employer....none

length of employment....unemployed

weekly income....$230

agent....smack off!

Damn this global warming!

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 8:53am:

mothra wrote on Jul 15th, 2015 at 12:07am: And it doesn't help that this government keeps slashing the social welfare sector. oh really?  care to identify a single 'cut' nevermind a slash?

simplistic - two or three freezes and changes in goal posts for receiving a benefit could create a slash....

Just discussing elsewhere the current startling revelation that with seriously moved - and even removed - goal posts - a significant portion of DSP applicants are no longer eligible.

Told you many times - all changes are just a stroke of the pen away - we could do away with politician rorts immediately, chop out unwarranted tax deductions, get a fair return of tax from the rich... all with a focus on the right moves and a single stroke of the pen..... Dead Farken Easy!!

Word for Today:-

eligibile - (n) - suited to receiving bile

Grappler Revamped Dictionary, 2015 Edition

kick dat page...

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 5:58pm:

hawil wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 5:45pm: Dsmithy70 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:21pm: longweekend58 wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 4:05pm: stunspore wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 1:08pm: No sarcasm intended.  It is good to see long not going with the line that "homelessness is a lifestyle choice". so in your narrow little world NO ONE chooses to live on the streets?  how wrong you are.  And that is part of the reason govts around the world have failed to eliminate homelessness.  Some actually do choose to live this way. Exactly what % of homeless people do you think CHOOSE to be so? LW will always find a way to put the blame on the victim. What the governments should do, is built refuges of last resort, like the hostels, I and many other migrants lived in in the 50,s and 60,s, nothing flash, but at least not on the street. I wonder if LW is one of those landlords, having housing empty. If one does choses to live on the street, and accommodation is provided by the government, then he/she has no grounds to complain, and LW should not use them as an excuse.  think what you wil. you will anyhow.  Just explain why people live on the streets for many years with no attempt whatsoever to live anywhere else.  you wont of course.

Of course I won't, because I,am not all-knowing like you, and cannot understand why someone want to sleep in the freezing cold, if he/she has a chance of a warm bed.

Page Turner - draw your pay and hit the road.. lazy sod...

Kat wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 8:38pm:

The only fear the right have for the homeless is that they might be expected to actually pony-up a few tax-dollars to help fix the problem. And, they should. The answers are obvious (the most important ones, at least) - build more public and community housing projects. And raise social-security payments for sole par- ents and the unemployed by $100 a week, effective immediately. It gives them a chance to afford at least somewhere basic while the homes are being built. And, as a bonus, it creates jobs for the life of the program. Almost all homeless people I've known have been homeless either because no- where was available, or their paltry and parsimonious 'benefit' wouldn't cover rent.

Kat won't be happy until we end up like the Greeks.

Quote:

Fears For Homeless As Temperatures Plummet

.......but the climate is warming?  There should be no fear?  :-/

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 11:41am:

Kat wrote on Jul 14th, 2015 at 8:38pm: The only fear the right have for the homeless is that they might be expected to actually pony-up a few tax-dollars to help fix the problem. And, they should. The answers are obvious (the most important ones, at least) - build more public and community housing projects. And raise social-security payments for sole par- ents and the unemployed by $100 a week, effective immediately. It gives them a chance to afford at least somewhere basic while the homes are being built. And, as a bonus, it creates jobs for the life of the program. Almost all homeless people I've known have been homeless either because no- where was available, or their paltry and parsimonious 'benefit' wouldn't cover rent. Kat won't be happy until we end up like the Greeks.

Dropkick.

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 8:53am:

mothra wrote on Jul 15th, 2015 at 12:07am: And it doesn't help that this government keeps slashing the social welfare sector. oh really?  care to identify a single 'cut' nevermind a slash?

Yes, Longy, the impending multi-billion dollar cuts to the states who fund homeless services.

It may not happen overnight, but it will happen.

And thank heavens for that.

Kat wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 8:38pm:

.... and raise social-security payments for sole parents

NO WAY!

I'm sick of the 'Sole Parents' industry.

It's an insult to all those genuine 'Sole Parents' who were rendered spouseless during WWII, Vietnam and the Middle Eastern wars.

I'm sick of hearing about these 'Sole Parent' women who made absolutely no effort to discover the character and the personality of the men they married - before then divorcing them only MONTHS later as their very young children are testimony to.

The notorious 'Single Mothers' mob should be punished - NOT rewarded for their idiotic irresponsibility.

Their bludging Benefits should be reduced to help pay for an increase in the Unemployment benefits.

'Single Mothers' - Jesus Christ! Bitches on heat who let the first person wearing trousers screw the arse off them.

If they want to supplement their government benefits for having dropped unwanted brats like sows on Farmer Brown's farm - then they should prostitute themselves through the Classified and at brothels like 'A Touch of Class'.

I'm mad as Hell and I'm not going to take this 'Sole Parents' bullshit any more!