This July has been one of the coldest on record, making the streets a rougher place to sleep, but a combination of strategies have raised community awareness in recent weeks, potentially making the winter easier for thousands of homeless people.

The recent Vinnies CEO Sleepout, which invited company executives to sleep rough, saw over $2.8 million raised across the country, with Perth the second highest fundraising city.

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It all leads up to this year’s National Homeless Person’s Week (NHPW), from August 2 – 8.

‘Homelessness Australia has selected this year’s theme, Will you be homeless in 2020? to highlight and support the targets set to halve homelessness by 2020 through the Federal Government’s 2008 Homelessness White Paper,’ said Travis Gilbert, Homelessness Australia’s Acting Executive Officer.

Approximately 104,676 people across the nation were counted as homeless, according to the last Australian Census conducted in 2006.

That is equivalent to 53 people in every 10,000.

In Perth’s CBD the homeless rate on Census night in 2006 was 1,368 while throughout the entire metro area, the rate was 6,270, or 47 people per 10,000.

‘Unfortunately, there is no data on the number or percentage of homeless people who are GLBTI,’ Gilbert said.

‘We know that GLBTI people face increased discrimination when applying for housing due to homophobia and as you would be aware young people are sometimes evicted from the family home if their parents/guardians have a prejudicial attitude towards their children because of their sexuality.’

Mission Australia’s Winter Sleepout, which takes place during NHPW, aims to raise money by encouraging people, businesses and schools to either sleepout, hold a winter barbecue or have a pyjama day in order to raise funds for and awareness of the current state of homelessness.

Of course the best way to raise awareness, Gilbert stated, was simply not to ignore the problem.

‘I think it would be good if each one of us tried to treat people who are experiencing homelessness as we would other people,’ he said.

‘Even simply not ignoring people who ask us for change or who are selling The Big Issue is a step forward. Many people who are experiencing homelessness report feeling invisible.

‘Another good illustration is the quote about how a person felt: “They spit at you with their eyes!”’

Support Services:

Scott-Patrick Mitchell

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