More People Found Sleeping Rough In Newcastle And Lake Macquarie

 BY IAN CROUCH

There's been a significant increase in the number of people sleeping rough in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

Minister for Homelessness, Rose Jackson has released the 2025 Street Count which shows 49 people were found to be sleeping rough in Newcastle in 2024, up from 6 on the previous year's count, while in Lake Macquarie, 40 people were found sleeping in cars or public places - up from 31 in 2023.

Across the Hunter and Central Coast, 188 people were found sleeping on the streets, up from 100 on the previous count.

Homelessness NSW Chief Executive Dominique Rowe has told Nine Radio it reflects a state-wide trend. 

" It really shows the need for funding of homelessness services and building more houses. We've seen an increase of 8% in people sleeping rough in NSW," she said.

 

Homelessness NSW CEO Dom Rowe

 

Rally to use Tomaree Lodge to house the homeless

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Port Stephens residents are invited to take part in a rally this weekend, to turn the former Tomaree Lodge into temporary housing for the homeless. 

In response to rapidly rising homelessness rates, participants are calling on the Department of Communities and Justice to consider using the Lodge, as well as the former Stockton Centre, as a temporary solution to the problem. 

The number of homeless residents in the LGA has tripled since 2020, and Port Stephens Family Neighborhood Services has already assisted over 900 people experiencing homelessness this year. 

United Services Union Organiser and Anna Bay resident Melissa Pond, said it's disheartening to see long-term residents of Port Stephens suffer. 

"We know there's people who are families, there's elderly, there's people who are sick, people with disabilities, and they're being forced out onto the street." 

Ms Pond said dramatic spikes in rental prices were a major contributor to the problem. 

"We're seeing people putting properties on the market more, and people are moving up here from Sydney now that they're able to work flexibly; they're getting out of Sydney and looking for a sea change, and that has pushed up prices for people, pricing them out of the rental market in Port Stephens."

She also expressed concern for vulnerable groups in the region. 

"There's a real spike in domestic violence-related incidents and we're seeing that people are staying in those situations which is really unhealthy," she said. 

We understand there are other interests for that site but I really believe that this supersedes them. There really is nowhere for people to go."

It's hoped the demonstration will ease pressure on support services which are already stretched to their limit. 

The rally will be held at 10am on Saturday at the car park near Tomaree Lodge. 

Image credit: https://trra.com.au/

Homeless Connect Day returns to the Hunter

BY BILLIE KAAL 

Homeless Connect Day is returning tomorrow at Newcastle Showground Exhibition Centre.

The event, running from 9am to 2pm, will shine a spotlight on homelessness in the Hunter, with a range of support services being provided to individuals at risk or experiencing adversity. 

Despite a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, event organiser Michelle Faithfull believes this year is set to be bigger then ever, with over 180 individuals on-hand to provide support in some form. 

"On the day people will be able to get free health checks and eye and hearing checks, immunizations, podiatry services, diabetes screenings as well as support from breast screening, drug and alcohol, mental health, diabetes, brain injury, continence, and community and aged care services," she said. 

Key government agencies such as NSW Births, Deaths & Marriages, Services NSW, Services Australia (Centrelink), and Hunter Water will also be in attendance. 

Ms Faithfull says she believes that individuals experiencing homelessness can benefit from assistance now more then ever, particularly post-COVID lockdowns. 

 

She argues that the stigma surrounding homelessness should be dispelled and its hidden nature should be highlighted with a more positive approach. 

"Home matters, help matters and hope matters and this important annual day helps to shine a spotlight on homelessness in our region and gets people vital support in a safe, non -threatening way," she said. 

 

Image credit: Hunter Homeless Connect.

Calls for Former Stockton Centre to House the Homeless

BY OLIVIA DILLON

The State Government is facing calls from the Hunter, for the former Stockton Centre to be temporarily repurposed as emergency accommodation for the homeless. 

State member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp MP was joined by the Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson MLC this morning, in launching the call. 

The appeal is also being supported by a number of local support services, including Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS), Nova for Women and Children, Jenny's Place, and the Hunter Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service. 

The call comes as recent data indicates homelessness services turned away 114,000 Australians seeking help between 2020 and 2021, citing a lack of resources. 

Data out of Hume Community Housing backs up these figures, indicating the need for community housing in the Hunter rose by 24% between 2020 and 2021. 

The former Stockton Centre has eight renovated houses and two units on the site which are said be suitable for emergency accommodation.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp, said the building is owned by the Department of Communities and Justice, and should therefore be used to serve those in the community who need it most. 

"This asset belongs to the community, not some Minister in Sydney who says it’s all too hard. We need less talk and more action when it comes to addressing the housing crisis," Mr Crakanthorp said. 

"We've got a perfect storm. We've got an inflation rate going through the roof, we've got hardly any rentals available, and we've got people moving up here from Sydney and other places which is pushing up prices, making it even less affordable to even buy, let alone rent." 

The vacant site has sat dormant for almost two years, and Mr Crakanthorp says it's about time the government did something with it. 

"Every week I am dealing with people experiencing homelessness who are struggling to find accommodation. Whilst this is only a temporary solution, it's one that is desperately needed right now to get us through this crisis," he said.  

The need for community housing in the Hunter rose by 24% last year. 

Hunter homeowners encouraged to house people in need with new initiative

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A new initiative is hoping to address the Hunter's housing crisis by connecting homeowners with people in need of a roof over their head.

The Share Your Home program, launched by local foodbank provider Southlakes Incorporated, allows people to sign up as a host or as someone looking for a home.

CEO Christine Mastello says the community has embraced the idea.

"We started out because we run the Community Hair Project, and everywhere we were going around Australia giving free haircuts, people were saying, 'Can I have a homeless person?'," Ms Mastello said.

"I'm like, well they're not a puppy!"

"But as the question kept coming up, I thought, well, people must have a big enough heart to open their home."

The organisation will pay for a police check for the host, help organise a short-term lease agreement, and provide the person moving in with a pack of toiletries and other items.

Each homeless individual who signs up to the program will need to have their identity verified by a service provider such as a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter.

Ms Mastello says it's pretty simple from there.

"The homeless person checks out the postcode that they'd like to live in, finds a house hopefully in that postcode, and then we just ask that the homeless person and the host get to know each other for a little while, have a chat, see the house rules if there are any," Ms Mastello said.

"We match them up and it's amazing, and we've had some amazing stories already."

The initiative comes just months after the Hunter recorded an all-time low in rental vacancy, with just 0.7 percent of properties free last December.

A healthy market sits around 2.5 percent.

While Ms Mastello maintains the Government needs to take serious action to address the region's housing crisis, she says the program's already proving successful in the meantime.

"We have had a lot of ex-foster parents and just a lot of mums and dads, so it's all over the range," Ms Mastello said.

"It makes your heart so happy to know that people are so willing to do something so simple as to open your home, for three months, just to let people breathe again."

If you're interested in being a home or need a place to stay, find out more at www.shareyourhome.com.au.

Housing supply hits all-time low in the Hunter

BY DAKOTA TAIT

There's concern the Hunter's homelessness crisis is only worsening, as the number of available rentals hits an all-time low.

New data reveals just 0.7 percent of properties across the region were vacant in December last year.

A healthy market usually hovers around a 2.5 percent home vacancy.

The Hunter Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service are concerned more and more people are facing eviction and homelessness.

Coordinator Nicole Grgas says it's a shocking situation.

"They might not necessarily be homeless in what we think, that they've got no bed, but they're going from relative's house to relative's house," Ms Grgas.

"We hear families are having to split up to stay with relatives, or people having to put all of their goods in storage because they've just got nowhere to move on to."

It's likely driven by a number of factors, such as rising rents, low supply due to more out-of-town renters and buyers looking for a seachange, and bidding wars for private rentals.

Many locals have reported termination of rental contracts as their homes are put on the market by the owner.

Ms Grgas says the issue isn't likely to go away on its own.

"One of the things that seems to be putting a lot of pressure on tenants in our region are the rent increases, and no grounds notices," Ms Grgas said.

"It's something that we think can be looked at and legislated."

"It would take pressure off people who are currently in rental housing, because what they're saying to us is, I've got this rental increase, it's now unaffordable, and now I need to relocate."

The organisation is also calling for more investment in social housing to alleviate pressure on the market. 

 

Community Calls To Use Tomaree Lodge As Emergency Housing

BY DAKOTA TAIT

There's a new push to use the now vacant Tomaree Lodge as crisis accommodation for local families in need of a home.

The former disability care centre has been empty since the last residents left last month. 

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington says she'd like to see Tomaree Lodge put to good use while the Government sorts out the future of the site.

"The people that are really struggling are those that are vulnerable, there are people sleeping rough, there are families sleeping in tents," Ms Washington said. 

"This is my proposal for the Government that we utilise the vacant homes sitting at the Tomaree Lodge site just as a short-term solution to help us through."

The Yacaaba Centre and Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Service has backed the idea, while the Shoal Bay Community Association says they'll support the proposal if logistical issues are ironed out.

It's understood there's also concern about the Government's plans ahead of community consultation. 

"Going forward, we need to ensure that the future of the site is determined by community with the support of Government," Ms Washington. 

"So far, Government has not advised any of us of its plans for the site, and the community's very concerned about the future and the security of the site."

Ms Washington says the proposal would be a great outcome for the heritage site.

"It seems like a sensible solution to offer emergency housing for families that are struggling at Tomaree Lodge to assist in this crisis," Ms Washington said. 

"We want the Government to come on board with community to ensure that decisions are being made with us to get the best outcome for that really special site."

Image credit: https://trra.com.au/

New Report Predicts Homelessness To Rise by 40 percent in Newcastle, over Next 12 months

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Equity Economics report ‘A Wave of Disadvantage Across NSW: Impact of COVID-19’ released today by NCOSS predicts in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie homelessness is set to increase by 40.5% within a year.

Homelessness in the Hunter is set to have proportionally higher increases than other parts of NSW, reflecting already high levels of homelessness and higher local increases in unemployment.

More than 10,000 people are now on the waiting list for social housing in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, with concerns this number could increase by 40 percent over the next six months.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery says at the current rate of construction, it would take 37 years to build enough public housing properties to clear the backlog in her electorate alone.

"There's been a long time since Government has really built specifically public housing," Ms Hornery said. "It's a priority, and the Government, all levels of Government, need to make sure funding public housing and building public housing, which is a great way to employ people as well, is a priority for them." 

Ms Hornery says the current waiting times for public housing are "unacceptable" and will put thousands of vulnerable Australians at further risk.

"If you don't have a home over your head, then you have nothing really," Ms Hornery said. "Not only does homelessness in itself create a great deal of difficulties and problems for people, it's terrible for children, and it also means it's very hard for people to get jobs."

Mark Degotardi, CEO of the Community Housing Industry Association NSW, says the housing crisis is a "looming catastrophe" which may put 88,000 families in housing stress over the next 12 months.

"Before COVID-19 community organisations and the property sector were calling for 5,000 new social housing properties a year over the next decade," Mr Degotardi said. "That need is even more pressing now - this report shows when this recession reaches its peak, thousands of struggling families may have nowhere to go."

Hunter Residents Encouraged to Donate Tents to Help Homeless

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Hunter residents are being urged to search their garages and sheds for unused tents and donate them to a new Tents for Homelessness initiative to help the homeless get a roof over their heads.

Local agent Chad Dunn and Mulligan Property Group started the tent drive in an effort combat rising rates of homeless in the Hunter - around 2700 people are estimated to be homeless, an increase of 22 percent since 2011.

Mulligan Property Group is currently using their Nelson Street office as a local drop-off point for donations.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said while serious work needed to be done to manage the issue of homelessness in the Hunter, these efforts would help the homeless in the meantime until they could could find safe and secure long-term accommodation.

"Whilst the end goal of connecting people with the necessary services and support to ultimately be housed is a priority, for many there are nights spent rough sleeping until arrangements can be made," said Ms Hornery.

"It's a wonderful initiative, I really support it, and I'm hoping our local community goes and has a look in their backyards for tents or in their garages and sheds to see what they can find."

New or used tents can be donated at Mulligan Property Group's office at 108 Nelson Street, Wallsend.

Image credit: pixabay.com

Plan To End Homelessness In Lake Macquarie

BY IAN CROUCH

In a Hunter first, Lake Macquarie City Council is working on a plan to tackle homelessness in the local government area.

It's launched an online survey seeking community feedback on ideas and actions to support existing networks to reduce the number of homeless people.

Manager Community Partnerships, Andrew Bryant said more than 400 people in Lake Macquarie identified as homeless in the most recent Census.

"Our survey will focus on identifying issues, ideas for actions and building on existing support networks to reduce this number and combat the complex issue of homelessness," he said.

Council also wants feedback on how to provide more affordable housing in Lake Macquarie.

"This will inform ways to provide long-term stable accommodation for people who may be couch-surfing with family and friends, or staying in temporary, overcrowded accommodation," Mr Bryant said.

Lake Macquarie Mayor, Kay Fraser said the strategy will provide an important framework for Council to support the community.

"Homelessness includes those staying in temporary accommodation and includes all demographics, but largely affects young people and over 55's," Cr Fraser said.

"We are committed to affecting positive change. There has been an increased number of enquiries from our residents, especially in response to COVID-19, and they are concerned about the welfare of others. It's our duty to help," she said.

Consultation for the strategy is open until Friday 10 July.

For more information or to complete the survey visit shape.lakemac.com.au/homelessness-plan

Lake Macquarie City Council is seeking ideas to address homelessness in the area

Government Promises to Halve Homelessness as Part of World Homeless Day

BY TYLER FARDELL


The State Government is promising to halve the number of people sleeping on the street by 2025 as part of World Homeless Day.

Effective programs which have housed more than 550 rough sleepers in Sydney are now being rolled out to regional areas like Newcastle and Tweed Heads.

Assertive outreach services provides housing for people doing it tough and attempts to 'break the cycle' of homelessness.

Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward says the outreach services go beyond just finding housing for people.

"What assertive outreach does is family community services staff go out onto the streets and find people who are homeless. They not only find them a home but they seek to provide them the services needed to break the cycle", he said.

These services include programs to overcome factors like mental health issues, drug and alcohol problems and unemployment.

"More than 90 percent of people that we have housed in Sydney have sustained their tenancies and are turning their lives around".

The Government will also undertake the first, comprehensive state-wide count on street sleepers early next year in order to get a more complete picture about the situation.

Source; ABC.net.au

Charity Fundraiser to Tackle Homelessness in the Hunter

BY ALICE PEART

The seventh annual Newcastle Sleepout by Saint Vincent de Paul will take place tonight at McDonald Jones Stadium with over fifty local CEOs participating in the event to raise funds for homeless services.

The Sleepout invites participates to experience a night of 'sleeping rough' with just a sleeping bag and a piece of cardboard.

The latest census data shows more than 116,000 people currently experience homelessness in Australia, with over a third of that number occurring in NSW alone.

With only three percent of homes deemed affordable across the state for low-income earners, Saint Vincent de Paul is advocating for more social housing and measures to decrease cost of living.

The state government has pledged to halve homelessness by 2025 but Event Coordinator for the fundraiser, Jenny Barrie, has said there is an urgent need to direct more funds to regional areas with people reportedly feeling less safe outside of cities.

The fundraising effort is aiming for $150,000 to contribute to food services, social housing and health professionals provided by the charity in the Hunter.

It is forecasted to be just four degrees over night and Barrie says it can be a "cold, hard" experience.