Homelessness
Homelessness
Homelessness is a significant and growing issue in the inner west community and takes many forms including sleeping rough, couch surfing and staying in unstable or overcrowded accommodation.
The drivers of homelessness include a shortage of stable and affordable housing, family violence, long-term unemployment, family breakdown, mental illness and drug and alcohol abuse.
A short course on homelessness
We have developed a course to provide an introduction to the issues of homelessness and give guidance to our residents who want to know how they can help.
It's a short interactive course that takes about 15 minutes to complete. At the end you will know how to report locations where you notice people who may need housing assistance. This in turn enables Council to connect people sleeping rough to homeless services that can offer help.
This is one way you can make a real difference for the more vulnerable people in our community.
Introduction to homelessness short course
Rough sleeping
Rough sleeping is the most visible form of homelessness, involving people sleeping with little or no shelter at all. Every night in the inner west there are significant numbers of people who resort to sleeping in car parks, shopfronts, parks, trains, tents or in vehicles. These people are some of the most vulnerable in our community. They represent just a small part of the overall homelessness picture in the Inner West: less visible is the number of people staying with friends (couch surfing) or in overcrowded; temporary, unstable or inadequate accommodation.
Street counts
The inner west street count of people sleeping rough has been conducted annually since 2016. Counting teams head off from approximately 10pm until 2am visiting homelessness hot spots to record the numbers and locations of people sleeping rough. They count people sleeping in places such as parks, tents, carparks, shopfronts, behind offices or in vehicles parked in suburban streets. As only a fraction of our streets and parks can be visited on the night, it is probable that street homelessness is higher than the street count numbers suggest. |
The street count is undertaken as a joint initiative between Inner West Council and Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. It forms part of the annual statewide street count coordinated by the Department of Communities and Justice.
Information gathered from the street count is used to benefit people who are sleeping rough. This includes following up with outreach worker visits in the days after the count and advocating for more homeless services. All information is non-identifying and information regarding the location of a person sleeping rough is not released except where agencies are required to respond to the person with a follow up visit.
More about the counts
Why is the count done at this time?
The inner west street count has been conducted in February every year since 2016. We conduct it on the same night as the City of Sydney street count, and now many other Councils are conducting their street count on the same night. This aids our ability to compare data from previous years.
How did you count them?
Counting teams use an app that has been developed by the Department of Communities and Justice to record locations and numbers of people sleeping rough, and this is complemented by a paper-based tally sheet which is used to cross check the app data. All counters are provided with a manual prior to the street count that details the processes for counting, including advice to count people from a distance to ensure they are not disturbed by the counting teams; not engaging with people and not taking photos.
What is the geographic scope of the count?
The count is conducted within the boundaries of the Inner West Local Government Area (LGA). As it is not feasible to visit every street and park in the LGA, the counting teams visit areas where we are aware that people are staying or where they have stayed in the past.
Do you ask people for their consent before you give information to others?
After the street count outreach staff from Wesley Mission, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, Missionbeat, the Department of Communities and Justice and Sydney Local Health District visit the locations where people were counted to offer assistance. Nobody is required to accept assistance. Anybody who would like to receive assistance from case workers or accept an offer of temporary accommodation must complete a consent form which enables services to work with that person to find housing solutions.
Who provides assistance (including emergency assistance) to homeless people? Does Council or government take any responsibility?
The inner west homelessness collaboration conducts regular monthly outreach patrols. Outreach patrol teams include representatives from Wesley Mission, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, Missionbeat , NSW Health and Department of Communities and Justice. These outreach teams attempt to engage with rough sleepers and offer assistance with housing or other needs. Often the teams arrange temporary accommodation on the spot. In the case of a health emergency, participating agencies would contact emergency services on the rare occasions that a person may require such a response.
Council's homelessness policy
Inner West Council's Homelessness Policy (PDF 294.7KB) recognises the vulnerability of rough sleepers and the significant numbers of people sleeping in our local parks and streets.
Council is committed to reducing the number of people in this situation by helping to connect them with homelessness services.
Multi-agency outreach - What's being done?
Council has developed strong partnerships with a range of homeless services and state government agencies to form the Inner West Homelessness Outreach Collaboration. The Collaboration includes staff from Council, Department of Communities and Justice, Sydney Local Health District, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, Missionbeat, Wesley Mission, NEAMI Way to Home and the Bill Crews Foundation. Representatives from this Collaboration patrol the streets and parks of the Inner West and meet regularly to coordinate responses that are appropriate for individual needs.
Watch this great multi-agency open discussion on some of the causes of homelessness and what is being done to help.
In their own words - What's it like to be in their shoes?
All the policies, reports and data you read can’t ever hope to convey what it must feel like to find yourself without a home. Watch this short video to hear what people with lived experience of homelessness say about what it’s like to be in their shoes. Their stories are compelling.
How to help
Anyone who is concerned about the welfare of a person who is sleeping rough can contact
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Missionbeat – 1800 306 461
On street support to access food, shelter, medical care; welfare assistance; case management; transport.
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Wesley Mission Homeless Services – 1300 259 789
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Newtown Neighbourhood Centre – 9564 7333
11-13 Darley Street, Newtown
Outreach, low-cost accommodation list, Drop-in Hub (information and referral-weekdays) One Stop Shop (essential service hub-weekly).
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The Rev. Bill Crews Foundation – 8752 4600
180 Liverpool Rd, Ashfield
Free 7 days/week support including breakfast and lunches; showers; laundry; access to computers, phones and Wi-Fi. Free medical and dental. Further support by appointment.
- Link2home – 1800 152 152
24/7 homelessness referral and information
- 1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732
24/7 DV, family, and sexual violence service
- Lifeline – 13 11 14
24/7 Crisis Support
- Mental Health Line - 1800 011 511
24/7 NSW Health phone service staffed by mental health professionals.