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THE HOMELESS
- The ABS statistical definition states that when a person does not have suitable
accomodation alternatives they are considered homeless if their current living
arrangement:
- Is in a dwelling that is inadequate; or
- Has no tenure (measurement of time where you can occupy an area), or if their
initial tenure is short and not extendable; or
- Does not allow them to have control of, and access to space for social relations
- For the purpose of the 2011 Census (ABS, 2011), the ABS formed six operational
groups of homelessness.
- Persons living in improvised dwellings, tents, or sleeping out
- Persons staying temporarily with other households
- Persons in supported accomodation for the homeless
- Persons living in boarding houses
- Persons living in other temporary lodging
- Persons living in severely crowded dwellings
- Peoples may become homeless due to changes in their income, mental or physical
health, or in their inability to maintain social networks.
- Homelessness may occur for a single, short period in a individual’s life, or it may be a
situation that reoccurs over the course of an individual’s life.
- The prevalence of homelessness varies over time, but the fact remains that people
within this marginalised group each lacks a safe and nurturing home environment and a
private place where they feel comfortable, settled and like they belong.
- On average homeless people die at just 47 years old
- 44,000 young aussies experiencing homelessness, only 6% sleep rough
- For every rough sleeper, there are around 100 people in hostels and 1100 households in
overcrowded accommodation.
- On any given night in australia 1 in 200 people are homeless
PREVALENCE:
- Homeless people come from all walks of life. They vary in many ways including age,
cultural background, socioeconomic level and health status.
- People may experience homelessness as an individual or family. The only thing
shared by all homeless people is their vulnerability.
- Due to their circumstances they are often excluded from participating in activities with
other members of the community.
- A lack of employment or education can impact considerably on an individual’s
health and wellbeing
- People who are homeless tend to have poorer health, and higher rates of substance
abuse and mental illness than the general population.
- They are also more likely to experience violence and be imprisoned.
- The children of families who are homeless are particularly vulnerable
- They are more likely than other children to experience developmental issues and
disrupted schooling
- This can lead to repeating family patterns of disadvantage and exclusion
TERMINOLOGY:
Question:
Describe how the terms we use for homeless people can impact their contribution to the
community.
The terms used to describe homeless people contribute to the negative stigma that already
surrounds this group. These terms are mainly focused on the negative aspects and stereotypes
of homeless people. For example such as being dirty, a druggo, and being uneducated.
SATISFACTION OF NEEDS (SHESEAS):
- The circumstances that lead to homelessness are unique for each individual, family and
group.
- Maslow proposed that the set of needs in one level must be satisfied before an individual
can progress to a higher level-an individual must therefore have their physiological
needs (food, water and sleep/rest) met before they are able to realise higher-level
needs. A homeless person is vulnerable as a result of their physiological condition is
inevitably at risk of not feeling safe within their environment
- This can be difficult for homeless people, as they are often unable to source nourishing
foods, prepare balanced meals, or enjoy a restful night’s sleep. This may be largely due
to a lack of financial resources, but also to a lack of knowledge of how to acquire these
basic resources. Not having clothing appropriate to the weather conditions may also
cause problems, further exacerbating their personal wellbeing.
- Access to support networks and services is imperative - though sadly not all homeless
people have access and rely upon each other for survival. The needs of the homeless
are closely related to the root of the cause of homelessness (for example, alcohol or
drug abuse, loss of employment, mental instability). Nevertheless, it is the base
physiological needs which need to be addressed first.
2) Health
- Homeless people generally have health issues that are more severe than those of others
in the community. Health issues may cause homelessness, but will worsen if left
untreated.
- Homeless people may have trouble accessing health services for a number of reasons,
including financial hardship. Further, a homeless person may not have a medicare card
or health records, which will make things hard when they attend a public hospital or
emergency medical centre, and complicate diagnosis and treatment
- The provision and maintenance of regular medications, if prescribed, becomes a further
problem. Infections and mental illnesses (such as schizophrenia or an anxiety disorder)
are problems experienced by many of the homeless.
- Dental decay and toothless-ness might arise from their inability to sufficiently care for
their teeth by doing things such as using tooth brushing regularly and having dental
check-ups.
3) Employment:
- Most homeless people are unemployed. Employment is the key to re-entering society.
Unfortunately there are more factors that negatively affect the likelihood that a homeless
person will gain and maintain employment.
- Such factors include; low self esteem, a lack of social skills, major health issues, the
difficulties involved in presenting appropriately for workplace and deficits in education or
basic work skills.
- Homeless people may also face discrimination in the workplace, in response to an
unkempt appearance and poor personal hygiene.
- It is their inability to secure employment - and thus income - that makes it difficult for
homeless people to access the basic necessities of life. For some homeless people the
social interaction and employment opportunity of selling ‘The Big Issue’ magazine is
significant. Individuals are able to work their own hours, are paid in cash and
immediately see reward for their labour.
- The Australian government initiative ‘job services australia’ is a service aimed at
supporting unemployed people to find suitable employment.
4) Sense of identity:
- Given that a person’s sense of identity comes from involvement in work, family life and
other social activities, it is easy to see why a homeless person would have difficulty
meeting this need.
- The homeless person may lack a strong sense of identity due to an absence of safety,
security, a stable address and income.
- Initially when they become homeless, they might have the drive and ambition to sort out
their life and getting back on track, however it they are homeless for long enough their
sense of identity may change and they might start to accept their life and feel as though
they are unworthy
- Negative interactions with the community can also reinforce feelings of low self-worth,
which also prevents the individual from having a positive sense of identity.
- Some community programs or groups, such as Choir of Hard Knocks and work
programs, can help homeless people achieve a sense of identity.
5) Education:
- Stereotypically, we link homelessness with a lack of education. This may not always be
the case and is, again, dependent upon the cause of homelessness.
- Generally speaking, it can be difficult to move beyond the poverty experienced by the
homeless. Many homeless people do not have the financial means to access
educational services
- 27% of the homeless population are under the age of 18 - that equates to 28,500 people
(ABS, 2011)
- If a homeless person is to succeed at independent living, they may require education in
basic living skills, such as maintaining hygiene and learning to look after their
environment. They may also need assistance with mental health issues, or strategies to
deal with alcohol and drug issues.
- Many volunteer support services provide opportunities for homeless people to acquire
skills which may enable them to seek employment and help. This will provide basic skills
and well as build self-esteem and socioemotional wellbeing.
- ‘Hanover’ - a melbourne based organisation that seeks to empower the homeless, is
working at bringing about change through the provision of educational services.
PRIORITY NEEDS:
ACCESS TO SERVICES:
- Most of the agencies that provide support and services for the homeless are funded
either directly or indirectly by the Commonwealth or State governments via the
supported Accommodation Assistance Programs (SAAP)
- Many of the agencies and services that use this funding are managed and staffed as
part of the welfare section of religious organisations (Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul,
Wesley Mission, Mission Australia and the Uniting Church)
- These agencies and services employ a number of health and welfare professionals but
also rely heavily on volunteer workers.
- The resources provided include various forms of crisis, temporary and long-term
accommodation, and services such as health care, advice, advocacy, counselling
referrals, meals and baths.
1) Financial support
2) Transport
3) Accomodation and housing
4) Health care
5) Counselling
6) Education
7) Employment
8) Legal Aid
Below is a list of the services that are available for the homeless:
- The Inner city homelessness outreach and support service
- Shelter NSW
- The NSW Department of Housing
- The NSW Department of Community Services (DOCS)
- The council to homeless persons
- The national coalition for the homeless
- Mission australia
- The wesley mission
1) Financial Support:
- Individuals seeking Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) services
because of financial difficulty were most often recorded in agencies targeting single men
(29%)
- For many individuals and families who are facing homelessness, not having a fixed
address makes it difficult to obtain government benefits- some homeless people seek
anonymity and do not want their whereabouts unknown.
- To this end, financial support is sometimes provided via material goods from op shops,
food, vouchers and the part payment of bills. Targeted community offers and referrals
that offer discounted of free services may also assist.
- The Department of Human Services provides a one-off crisis payment, centrepay, Rent
assistance and the Rent Deduction scheme. However, such services require a fixed
address and a bank account - which many homeless people do not have.
3) Transport:
- Homeless people’s appearance and the inability to pay for a fare often makes it unlikely
for them to use public transport.
- Walking is often the main form of transport - homeless people generally locate
themselves in a specific area of a suburb or city and have little reason to move.
- There have been moves (specifically in Victoria) to implement a homeless youth
transport policy. This proposal is an acknowledgement that homeless youth need access
to transport to seek out employment and break out of the poverty cycle.
4) Legal aid:
- Homeless people tend to have a range of issues that require expert judgement and
guidance. If left unaddressed, these problems will inevitability escalate and prolong the
anxiety associated with being homeless.
- Homeless legal aid services offering free, independent advice, can be found in many of
the larger towns and cities across NSW and are often situated in community centres that
are frequented by homeless people.
- In acknowledgement of the nomadic lifestyle of many homeless, such services operate
on a ‘drop-in’ basis and do not require appointments.
- Homeless outreach legal services is one example of such a service.
- The homeless person’s legal service provides a free legal service to people who are
homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Through this organisation, solicitor
advocates are available to homeless people who are in need of legal representation.
5) Education:
- Homelessness makes it difficult to maintain school or further study, and leaves people
vulnerable to long-term unemployment.
- At school, young people learn social cues, develop friendships and acquire skills that
allow them to become immersed in recreational activities - therefore failure to acquire
these skills at a young age is detrimental to further development.
- The ability to read, write, interpret forms and use technology is imperative in today’s
society
- Father Chris Riley’s youth off the streets is a non-denominational community
organisation that works with young people as they strive to turn their lives around.
Education and skill acquisition is a major focus of this organisation, which runs with
community support, youth drug and alcohol services, mental health services, food vans
and residential services in the Hunter Valley and Southern Highlands. NSW.
- Many support services and organisations offer specific training schools for homeless
people with refuges and community services.
6) Employment:
- Training, skills and education each play an integral role in preparing homeless people for
employment. To this end, many support agencies provide basic training programs where
homeless people can acquire skills that will help them obtain employment.
- Mission Australia is one such organisation. According to their mission statement, they
‘strengthen families and children, empower youth, strive to solve homelessness and
provide employment solution’
7) Counselling:
- Homeless people can access a range of drug and alcohol services including counselling,
support and detoxification services. Protocols have been developed by the key
government agencies to improve the access to these types of services.
- Homeless individuals and families require courage and confidence to seek assistance
from formal resource groups or agencies. Sometimes, the benefits of asking for help
may be outweighed by fears of welfare authorities doing things such as forcing them to
return home, taking their children away or placing them into care of shelters.
- If a homeless person needs to return to a formal welfare agency that they have
previously visited, they may be deterred by a sense of failure and shame at needing
recurring help.
8) Health care:
- Health services for homeless people are provided through hospital and community
health services, and through specialist services such as the sexual health and
Indigenous health teams.
- NSW Health and a number of community agencies employ health workers who provide
basic health care and assessment to homeless people in accommodation centres and
on the streets.
- Mental health services for homeless people are provided by hospitals and mental health
clinics funded by NSW Health.
- C - Characteristics of individuals within the group: e.g. age, gender, level of education,
culture, type of disability, first language spoken, SES
- A - Aspects of the service: e.g. opening hours, confidentiality, location, staffing
- R - Resources: e.g. time, money, energy, knowledge
LEVEL OF EDUCATION:
- Many homeless people have poor literacy and numeracy skills - as a group the
homeless need programs to improve these skills.
- They also require education about accommodation programs, welfare groups and social
programs that are available to them.
- Homeless people may not access these services because they do not know they are
available, or because they lack a sense of self-worth and entitlement.
LOCATION:
- The location of some services may make it impractical or impossible for homeless
people (particularly homeless women with young children) to access their limited
transport options.
- In some instances, given that homeless people carry their ‘home’ with them, cramped
offices may further restrict access.
MONEY:
- Many factors stop homeless people from having money: a lack of employment; the
absence of a bank account; the fear of being robbed.
- Given their limited financial means, people who are homeless have restricted access to
venues where a fee is charged
- An inability to pay for services may cause anxiety and reduce the self-esteem of an
individual; this may push the homeless person towards further self-imposed isolation.
This further restricts their access to resources.
KNOWLEDGE:
- Many of Australia’s homeless have a low level of education
- For many schooling has been sporadic (due to changes in school, as well as a
heightened frequency of domestic disharmony)
- The opportunity to acquire knowledge is therefore limited - they may find it difficult to
understand information and decipher forms
- The value placed on education and knowledge has meant that many organisations offer
training programs to the homeless. Such programs help the homeless to access
services that may have previously been inaccessible.