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Homelessness crisis: WA support services crippled with fresh wave of demand from growing ‘working poor’ cohort

Among the tattered tents, weathered belongings and makeshift kitchens in Rockingham bushland, those who have fallen through the cracks of society have made their home. Natham Haynes has been living in the secret clearing for six months and speaks with pride at his resourcefulness to sustain himself amidst the adversity that comes with life on the streets. He has lost count of the number of violent incidents he has witnessed or fallen victim to. A brutal beating to the head, drug-fuelled hostage situations, and all-out brawls with weapons. A bucket full of used syringes, discarded and filled before Mr Haynes settled in, are a reminder of how some have the tough task of battling addiction alongside homelessness. “It was a rubbish tip when I moved in. I had to move the rubbish before I could even feel safe in here,” he said. And in these shanty towns, theft is rife. Mr Haynes says he takes on the role of security guard, just to allow others the chance to leave to get food or access much-needed services. “I’m worried about leaving my camp and having no one here because the other homeless come in and f...ing take your s...,” he said. “One of them came in and I copped this head injury and ended up in hospital. I came back to nothing.” The camps are a disheartening sight, highlighting the dire situation faced by many and the growing concern that support services are failing to keep up with demand. Advocate Owen Farmer said rough sleepers in the bushland were “always living in fear”. Mr Farmer was homeless in his younger years but had an epiphany when his children were taken away from him due to his drug use. He’s been proudly clean for the last 29 years, during which time he has been dedicated to helping those experiencing similar situations to those he found himself in. And he’s not alone in wanting to help the homeless, locally. Rockingham’s Salvation Army opens its doors 12 hours a week, serving meals, providing food hampers and linking people to critical services. Chelsea Wilson, who works at the centre, said they are now being swamped by a new wave of demand — from a cohort of working poor. If the same increase in demand during the past year continues, Ms Wilson fears having to turn many more away. As of Tuesday this week, there were 1349 rough sleepers on the ‘By Name List’ — a homelessness database for WA. But the numbers are growing at a worrying pace. In the first six months of this year, WA recorded 555 newly identified rough sleepers, or those described as being in “chronic homelessness”. That represented a nearly 50 per cent increase in the prior six months. And their needs add complexity. At least 1222 on the database are listed to have a medical condition, 898 had mental health concerns, and 975 have been identified as having used illicit substances. Ms Wilson, however, said the database was likely only the tip of the iceberg. “It’s not completely accurate because some have children, and they haven’t been put on yet. It does fluctuate as people move out of the area or are able to get some accommodation,” she said. “We’re also seeing people who have never had to ask for help or seek support. “Seniors and families, I would say, are definitely on the increase. There are 21 families currently sleeping rough. So, those numbers have increased. “I met a grandma who has been living in her car for four months, with a four-year-old. She’s got full custody of her grandchild. Things like that are new.” Ms Wilson said young families struggling to pay rent or mortgages — exacerbated by a cost-of-living crisis — were increasingly accessing their services, particularly for food or financial planning support. But she adds many she had met were trying to hold down jobs while sleeping in their cars. “Trying to keep work while in that situation is difficult. I definitely know of people who have had to give up jobs,” she said. “One lady said that while she’s still on the books, she has to suspend working because she’s unable to keep up. Whether that’s from just being unwell and tired but also accessing the showers to keep hygiene and self-care up.” Ms Wilson said there was also an increase of people who required links to multiple services as they were presenting with an array of needs, like mental illnesses and the threat of domestic violence. “We have no domestic violence support service here at the moment. We would love to have someone who was skilled, because we’re seeing a real increase,” she said. It’s not just specific expertise the centre is in desperate need of either. Like many other services it is also grappling to attract volunteers. Numbers have dipped from about 125 pre-COVID volunteers to 70 at the start of 2023. “It’s building up slowly now, but we’re heavily reliant on a volunteer base,” she said. One win the centre has had, was managing to extend the hours of a financial counsellor. A crucial service, particularly when it came to housing applications, that continues to be key when helping those out of homelessness. “Definitely, the financial counsellor has been needed a lot,” Ms Wilson adds. “I think people who’ve never asked for help don’t even realise what’s involved or what they need to do.” As a result, many try to make do without having to jump through the hoops. Brodie Byass said he struggles to navigate support services because he doesn’t have the right ID, or it’s been stolen while he has been on the streets. The 27-year-old instead survives by couch surfing and living in the bush. “Whatever bush I can find I pretty much set camp up in,” he said. “It’s pretty bad. Right behind people’s houses. People don’t like that s..t. “I’ve camped in the back of people’s houses, just to crash somewhere. I’ve broken into someone’s house to sleep there while they weren’t home. I’ve done some pretty f...ed up shit.” He’s been in and out of prison, struggled with addiction, and five months ago was beaten so badly that large parts of his jaw had to be replaced with metal. “I copped a hiding I should have never woken up from,” he says, pulling down his lip to reveal the reconstruction work inside his mouth. “Seven bolts, two plates, and another two plates to go. My temple was split in two. I should have died there — I wish I did. “I just give up on life.” Caught up with “bad people” aged 14, Mr Byass began dabbling in drug use as a teenager. While he is trying to stay off hard drugs, he says among the only places he could keep returning to, to sleep, was on the floor at his dad’s house — where he’s often exposed to meth. “Pot is my life. I’ll never quit that. I’m trying to get off the meth too. But it’s hard when your dad does it every day. I don’t want to be like that.” Rockingham man Shane Campbell has been living out of his small hatchback with his service dog Mishka for the past three years. The father-of-five has been on the priority waiting list for a house for two years. He did secure a room for rent but within a month was kicked out after neighbours complained it was an illegal tenancy. “I’ve still got the same clothes on that I’ve had on for a month,” the 52-year-old said. “I suffer bad heart attacks. I’ve had like 30 since I was 31. I’ve been sick since November last year. “It’s just hard when you’re sleeping in a car and you get one hour’s sleep and you’re awake, one hour asleep and you’re awake. It’s just no quality of life at all. “It (having a heart attack) was scary for the first year and now, when it happens, I just lay there with a smile on my face. If that’s the way I’ve got to go, it’s the way I was supposed to go. “I just dread the person that has to come and take me out of my car because my dog’s very, very, very protective “I’m a father of five. I haven’t seen my children for six years because of being homeless. “At the moment, I don’t even want to wake up in the morning because I know what it’s going to entail.” WA has the highest rate of people sleeping rough in the country and tents in cleared bushland are sadly not unique. In April 2019, The West Australian exposed a shanty town hidden in the bushes around the city. The camp was moved on shortly after the investigation but many failed to secure long-term housing options. One woman who lived in the camp, but wished not to be named, told The West she was still homeless. Her mother, who had also lived at the settlement, died aged in her 50s while homeless in a Rockingham camp last year. A tent, a burnt-out fire pit, and a long-drop toilet still remain at that site today. As does a dog collar for the family’s former pet, which still hangs to a nearby tree. While camps like these do still exist, advocates are adamant they are no longer as big as those publicised in 2019. But some think, if managed, they could provide crucial shelter. Andrew Beadle OAM and Leanne Doyle help run St Brendan’s Homeless Respite out of a girl guides hall in Safety Bay. They provide hot takeaway meals, fresh produce, and hot showers. And noting the violence and theft concerns homeless people face, Mr Beadle said he would like safe camping spaces established for people to stay in overnight. There’s no specialist homelessness accommodation in Rockingham. But mayor Deb Hamblin said the council was “very active” in pushing the State Government for crisis shelter options. Housing and Homelessness Minister John Carey said the State Government had an immediate focus on providing housing and accommodation for rough sleepers and had spent $2.6 billion over the past four years to tackle the issue. “This is why, as a Government, our focus has been on delivering a housing first approach and providing intensive wrap-around support to help rough sleepers,” he said. A WA parliamentary inquiry report tabled earlier this year into the State’s homelessness investment found people living rough experienced poorer health outcomes — another problem at the forefront for Mr Carey. “Homelessness is not a cause of death in its own right; however, it’s acknowledged that people sleeping rough may be at greater risk, due a range of factors which can be exacerbated by comorbidities that these individuals may have,” Mr Carey said. Minister Carey also defended an increase in numbers on the By Name List, claiming they were currently up as the State Government had been “actively and aggressively” working to get more people on it through outreach efforts, to link them to relevant support services. New member for Rockingham Magenta Marshall says she will have “an open-door policy” to help the homeless but sidestepped questions about how to manage the explosion in bush camps in the southern suburb. “As the Member for Rockingham, my door and my office are always open,” Ms Marshall said. “Anyone needing support is encouraged to contact my office and we’ll be able to assist in putting them in contact with relevant support services.” Ms Marshall, who was officially sworn in as member of Parliament on Tuesday, also refrained from answering questions about her pre-decessor Mark McGowan’s investment in the issue, as local MP there for 26 years. “There’s been a range of major homelessness reforms announced to support Rockingham,” she said. For local and city support services, reference the Homelessness Reference Card For urgent assistance, call Crisis Care on 1800 199 008

exclusiveHomelessness crisis: WA support services crippled with fresh wave of demand from growing ‘working poor’ cohort

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Homelessness crisis: WA support services crippled with fresh wave of demand from growing ‘working poor’ cohort