Homelessness
Each night in Australia 105,000 people are homeless, including 7,500 families. Each June leading Australian CEOs and business leaders sleep rough for one night in support of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout.
Contrary to common perceptions about homelessness, 44 per cent of homeless people are women, many of these accompanied by children. It is a shocking fact that more than 12,000 Australian children under the age of 12 are experiencing some form of homelessness. A further 22,000 young people aged 12 to 18 are homeless, most of them estranged from their families. That’s more than 34,000 kids without a place they can call home.
Speaking at the recent launch of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2012, Dr John Falzon, St Vincent de Paul Society CEO, National Council said: “Children who are homeless are more likely to become homeless later in life and raise families who, in turn, also become homeless. You can guess why we haven’t solved the problem.”
Continue reading "I once was lost but now I’m found, thanks to Vinnies" »
One in 200 Aussies are homeless on any given day. And whenever a serious, intractable problem arises, commentators often suggest that the government raise an army of homeless people to fix it.
That’s what an American business has done. Except, not exactly with an army, and with the intent of solving a problem that’s more of the first world variety: Wireless internet access.
A marketing company has turned homeless people in Austin, Texas, into walking, talking wireless hot spots.
Is it just me or does your wireless router look like it could do with a feed and some warm, clean clothes?
Continue reading "Staring at your smartphone could help the homeless" »
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JB says:
Why don’t our overpaid Sports people and celebrities do something with their money and fame and work to help the homeless. Why, because they are too caught up in their own stupid lives! Some are homeless through choice. I would rather see these people be given a hand up and… Read more »
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John from Vaucluse says:
Just to enlighten you @Scotchfinger, when I protested about the price of the house that the real estate agent was flogging me in Toongabbie - he replied “Ah yes - but it is the Vaucluse of Toongabbie”. Read more »
As a relative newcomer to Sydney, I’ve discovered a phrase I almost never heard mentioned before I moved here: “Western Sydney”. As someone who lives in the Eastern Suburbs, the Western Suburbs aren’t really on my radar. I have little need to go out there.
I did, however, discover some new information about Western Sydney last weekend. Its new AFL team, the Giants, took the field against the Sydney Swans’ second XI. The hapless Giants kicked three goals and got smashed by over 100 points.
Wow. Furthermore, according to ABC’s Offsiders program, the NSW Government spent $45 million redeveloping a stadium which will play host to the team.
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Shifter says:
@Tally - you just want a little brother team to beat up on like the Dockers Read more »
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jim morris says:
I would like to introduce the concept ‘the ratchet principle’ (pronounced ratshit). It describes the phenomenon experienced by people who through bad luck or bad decisions sink financially. Every notch down gets easier but every attempt to rise back up becomes more difficult. For example, you lose your job and… Read more »
There are many things that trouble me about convicted paedophile Dennis Ferguson.
There is the debate about whether such offenders are ever capable of rehabilitation (I doubt it). There is the debate about whether we are doing enough to address the causal factors that hard wire this evil behaviour, transforming a person into a predator that destroys young people’s lives.
But one issue that seems to have escaped attention is how can a convicted paedophile from Queensland move to NSW and get himself a five year lease in public housing, while almost 40,000 more worthy tenants in NSW are waiting in the queue.
Continue reading "Red carpet for a paedophile while families are homeless" »
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Scott Morrison MP says:
Paul, who do you think has been running planning policy in NSW for the past 14 years. It wasn’t the Libs. Bob Carr said the place was full so just go live somewhere else. I suppose that’s what you’d call vision. Read more »
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Paul says:
Scott, point 4 - you starved the public housing system for years and now on the basis of one case - you claim the system is broke? How many thousands of people does the housing system work for - balance it up!The private rental market is also cactus because the… Read more »
David Cappo is a priest.
But he is one of the most powerful South Australians. Sure, he’s Vicar-General of the Catholic Church, a Monsignor and Dean of the Cathedral. He’s also our State’s Social Inclusion Commissioner, with a free range over social policy.
Monsignor Cappo is a member of our powerful Economic Development Board, and - most importantly - sits on “Ex-Com”, the Executive Committee of Cabinet, which includes me, the Deputy-Premier, and senior Ministers. Cappo has clout, and in order to get things done he sometimes has to act more like the Inquisition than a confessor.
Continue reading "A priest with punch: social inclusion explained" »
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Dissident says:
David Cappo is an unelected and unaccountable person appointed to a position of so-called power by a politician who is bereft of ideas and the capability to actually do things as a way of abrogating his responsibilities. Read more »
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Rob says:
I give Mike Rann credit for getting Cappo on board and letting him get some things done. In a political world dominated by dreary party hacks and ex-journalists, it is refreshing to see the impact that a leader with vision & verve can still make (I’m talking about Cappo in… Read more »
Walking to work this morning I saw a dead man sitting at a bus stop.
Well he wasn’t actually sitting, he was completely bent over from the waist and his hands dragged onto the concrete in front of him.
He was also surrounded by overfilled shopping bags and dressed in marked jeans and a grubby sweat shirt so at first glance I assumed he was homeless.
Continue reading "What makes someone stop and help a total stranger?" »
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Littleozzybloke says:
What makes someone stop and help a total stranger? This is why…because some people out here really do care.. As a local Community Action Group, Our project is to feed the Hungry and the Homeless, any community can do this..and it works. If a few dedicated volunteers looked after those… Read more »
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Tricia says:
Thank you for your article Lucy, it has given me much food for thought. Thank you also for your bravery in holding up a mirror for all of us to look into….but are we brave enough to look? The answer will be different for everyone, but at least your article… Read more »
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