Bathurst and Dubbo electorates have more homeless people than five years ago, according to a research paper presented in the NSW Parliament. The paper, which quoted the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, said there were 238 homeless people in Bathurst in 2016 – an increase of 12.8 per cent on 2011. The Bathurst electorate ranked 50th among all 93 NSW electorates for the number of homeless people. Read also: NSW government bans mobile phones in primary schools Narelle Stocks, a business development manager at Veritas House in the Central West, said its time the community acknowledges the existence of a homelessness problem. “There is a perception in Bathurst that homelessness does not exist,” Ms Stocks said. “As a community, we need to acknowledge that homelessness is a problem and young people are couch-surfing often as a first step towards homelessness. “As a community, we need to help them.” The ABS reported that there were 37,715 homeless people in NSW in 2016. They lived in various types of dwellings, including tents, supported accommodation, boarding houses, temporary lodgings and “severely” crowded dwellings, as well as living with other households. The majority of homeless people were in the age groups of 19-24 years and 25-34 years. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in its Specialist homelessness services annual report 2017–18, on Friday said about 71,000 homeless people were given special services in the last financial year in NSW. The AIHW data showed more women sought support than men. Among homeless people, the majority were either a lone person or the parent of a single child. The AIHW and ABS data are not comparable as they have different definitions for homelessness and are also for different periods. Read also: Traceless postcard offers hope for families of a missing person this Christmas Ms Stocks said the biggest challenge is to find support for youngsters who are transitioning from homelessness into independent living. “The shortage of houses in Bathurst and in communities around the country is putting pressure on vacancies,” she said. “There is a lot of prejudice around young people transitioning out and renting their first property without a rental history. “Thats the biggest challenge for a community like Bathurst to support young people in setting up their homes for the first time when they are exiting homelessness.” Read also: Orange rated better than Bathurst and Dubbo for performing urgent and semi-urgent surgeries within timeframe The ABS data showed the Dubbo electorate registered a higher growth in the number of homeless people compared with Bathurst in the past five years. It had 228 homeless people by the end of 2016. It was ranked just after Bathurst at 51st position. But the Orange electorate had good news to share after its homeless population declined by 7.2 per cent to 128 in 2016. Orange ranked 81st among all the 93 electorates in the state. Salvation Army Captain David Grounds said homelessness is a serious problem. “There is not much public support for homeless people,” he said. “A lot more public funding is required in fixing this problem.”
Bathurst and Dubbo electorates have more homeless people than five years ago, according to a research paper presented in the NSW Parliament.
The paper, which quoted the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, said there were 238 homeless people in Bathurst in 2016 – an increase of 12.8 per cent on 2011.
The Bathurst electorate ranked 50th among all 93 NSW electorates for the number of homeless people.
Read also:
Narelle Stocks, a business development manager at Veritas House in the Central West, said its time the community acknowledges the existence of a homelessness problem.
“There is a perception in Bathurst that homelessness does not exist,” Ms Stocks said.
“As a community, we need to acknowledge that homelessness is a problem and young people are couch-surfing often as a first step towards homelessness.
“As a community, we need to help them.”
The ABS reported that there were 37,715 homeless people in NSW in 2016.
They lived in various types of dwellings, including tents, supported accommodation, boarding houses, temporary lodgings and “severely” crowded dwellings, as well as living with other households.
The majority of homeless people were in the age groups of 19-24 years and 25-34 years.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in its Specialist homelessness services annual report 2017–18, on Friday said about 71,000 homeless people were given special services in the last financial year in NSW.
The AIHW data showed more women sought support than men.
Among homeless people, the majority were either a lone person or the parent of a single child.
The AIHW and ABS data are not comparable as they have different definitions for homelessness and are also for different periods.
Read also:
Ms Stocks said the biggest challenge is to find support for youngsters who are transitioning from homelessness into independent living.
“The shortage of houses in Bathurst and in communities around the country is putting pressure on vacancies,” she said.
“There is a lot of prejudice around young people transitioning out and renting their first property without a rental history.
“Thats the biggest challenge for a community like Bathurst to support young people in setting up their homes for the first time when they are exiting homelessness.”
Read also:
The ABS data showed the Dubbo electorate registered a higher growth in the number of homeless people compared with Bathurst in the past five years.
It had 228 homeless people by the end of 2016.
It was ranked just after Bathurst at 51st position.
But the Orange electorate had good news to share after its homeless population declined by 7.2 per cent to 128 in 2016.
Orange ranked 81st among all the 93 electorates in the state.
Salvation Army Captain David Grounds said homelessness is a serious problem.
“There is not much public support for homeless people,” he said.
“A lot more public funding is required in fixing this problem.”
This story Time to acknowledge: More homeless people in Bathurst, Dubbo than five years ago first appeared on Western Advocate.
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