Will the Homeless again be struggling … ?

Reflecting upon the arrival of another Winter in Tasmania, this question troubled me: Will the Homeless be again struggling to find adequate protection from hypothermia this year?

Again, no doubt, the welfare and benevolent organisations will be stretched past breaking point to find enough shelter for those in dire need, let alone trying put something warm and sustaining into a depleted stomach.

The 2009 census revealed that in Tasmania the homelessness rate was 53 people per 10,000. Male to Female ratio is about 50-50, and please don’t forget the children!

Further information revealed that of the homeless, 75% of these people were tri-morbid (ie, they identified as being mentally ill, abusing substances and having physical health issues).

The performance of the annual Sleep-Out of the Corporate and Political, will be choreographed, produced and directed once more, so that their Spin Doctors can vomit out the “Look at Me” moments, then the participating cast can pop off home and have a nice shower and some brekky, and claim they are fully cognisant and they do absolutely, totally, understand the challenges of being destitute.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have accommodation already prepared and fully functional to provide succour to those in need!

Wait a moment … Isn’t there a Multi Million Dollar facility out at Brighton that has kitchens, showers and a safe enviroment … empty, unused and costing who-knows-how-much to maintain and guard from the serious and ever present dangers of bandicoots and possums?

The many publicly-owned Halls and Civic Centres not in use on many freezing, wet nights, could be utilised … surely?

How could these properties be put to social benefit?

Brighton is a no-brainer really. Open it and follow these tenets of care …

• How about the charitable organisations and the Officialdom get together and work out a roster to open halls and civic centres up of an evening, and to have them cleared before they are to be used for their more regular civic purposes.

• To arrange a guardian or guardians, from these charities, as they would in their own housing facilities, to oversee these venues overnight and do whatever social assistance they can offer at the same time.

• That they require the accommodated to clean and keep tidy the facilities and surrounds, before leaving in the morning …

Open the sporting clubs so people can shower …

Maybe the many sporting clubs on public-owned land where there are showers could open up their facilities a few times a week, under the above provisions of care, to allow those in need, the dignity of a shower.

If transport out to Brighton is an issue, try some liason with the MTT, and see if a Bridgewater bus or two can stretch a bit further to the entrance once or twice a day.

Get a Telco to corporately donate an 1800 number that could be message-banked daily to have the current available accomodation details available so that the aforementioned roster system is up to date and accessible.

The supply of sleeping bags and matresses could be directed to the many camping and outdoor equipment conglomerates to get on board and give themselves an advertisable hook to hang their business promotion upon.

The issue of public liability insurance is certain to come up, well, work it out! Ask one of the many Insurance companies that corporately involve themselves in the Sleep-Out, to action a solution. Public Relations is a double edged implement, if they flinch, embarrass them publicly if needs be. Faux concern exposure is a hefty tool that they don’t wish to be bludgeoned with.

Power and heating costs also will be brought up as an issue; again see what Aurora can offer corporately. Say, that if a venue was used, and the Council and Charity both offer comfirmation of this, that Aurora offer a $10 refund, per night used, to the council responsible for the electricity bill.

Yes, there will be issues in relation to the concentration of people in one area, but if it stewarded correctly and there are multiple venues open per evening, concerns could be managed.

The advantages of a collegial, overnight respite facility would be of great value. The Outreach Workers wouldn’t have to spend countless hours checking isolated and dangerous areas that unfortunate souls have to find, to get a modicum of shelter. They can form better relationships and consult with many more people in the one area.

It is a fact, that if someone seeks your help, rather than being sought out, and embarrassingly disturbed, they are more receptive to assistance. The realisation that they aren’t alone, the social contact, in a safe enviroment, invaluable for most. Health issues regularly observed, can be attended or advised upon, before, for instance, a cold then becomes pneumonia, or a known psychiatric condition then escalates into a major debilitating event.

Social Conscience seems to be flavour of the month, so how about giving the people that desperately need it, a taste, just a nibble of compassion, and useful, thoughtful care, it will may a hell of a difference!