Western Sydney Homelessness

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-102455

Hansard session: Fifty-Sixth Parliament, First Session (56-1)

Western Sydney Homelessness

Ms TANIA MIHAILUK (Bankstown) (22:12:35):

The 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS] census data that was released just over a month ago unfortunately highlighted the homelessness crisis that has confronted New South Wales since 2011, in particular in Western Sydney and, of great relevance to me, in the Bankstown electorate. The data confirms a significant increase in homelessness in Western Sydney from 2011 to 2016 that is considerably higher than for the remainder of the State. New South Wales has had the highest increase in homelessness of any State or Territory. Overall, the figures increased from 28,000 in 2011 to close to 38,000 in 2016. They show a spike of 37 per cent compared with the nationwide increase of 14 per cent.

Significantly, many parts of Western Sydney have homelessness rates such as 51 per cent in Parramatta, 44 per cent in Campbelltown, and 46 per cent in Penrith. In my area of Canterbury-Bankstown there has been an alarming increase of 79.6 per cent—from 1,300 in 2011 to almost 2,500 in 2016, which is by far the largest increase in Western Sydney. This is, of course, a major concern. The census data also revealed that the rate of homelessness for young people aged 19 to 24 in New South Wales has increased by 92 per cent. It is very concerning that more than 74,000 clients were supported by specialist homelessness services in 2016-17, and yet those services were only contracted to deliver services for 58,000 clients that year.

Sydney Morning Herald

In the electorate of Bankstown a number of organisations work very hard to curb homelessness, including the Bankstown Women's Health Centre, which is run by the outstanding Mariam Mourad. Every week Mariam tells me tragic stories of women who have left their husbands often due to domestic violence. Those women struggle to find a safe and secure home. One story I heard was about Saile, a woman who has been brave enough to come forward and speak to the ABC and the . Saile resided for decades in Bankstown before she sadly found herself homeless in 2015. She was abused by her husband and she left the family home with their three children. The Bankstown Women's Health Centre tried to assist her, and finally Saile found a temporary home in Bexley. It was difficult for Saile and her children because the home was temporary. She said:

You're living on the edge because you don't know what's going to happen next. They might cut your Centrelink, and then you can't afford the rent and you have to leave, or they put up the rent and you can't afford it.

I never say no to work, I work hard to not go back to refuge and not go back to being homeless. I don't want my kids to go through that ever again.

These words are, of course, heartbreaking, but, sadly, , are a stark reality for many. In Bankstown close to 2,500 people are on the waiting list for social housing, with more than 100 of them being on the priority list. Applicants are waiting for five to 10 years for just a one-bedroom home. Those figures are disturbing. Indeed, a recent Anglicare rental analysis showed that less than 1 per cent of rental properties are affordable for people on low incomes in Greater Sydney. The lack of an affordable housing strategy in New South Wales has left thousands on low incomes unable to find a rental home, particularly in areas like Bankstown. I pay tribute to the many organisations that work hard in my electorate to provide support for families in difficult circumstances.

Time expired.

I acknowledge that there is much work to be done to try to curb homelessness. The latest census data figures are startling and of great concern. The Government should address homelessness. It is particularly concerning to know that many parts of Western Sydney are affected, with many families finding themselves homeless for the first time. We are also seeing young people couch surfing, people living in garages and people living in cars. That is the reality for many families in Western Sydney, including in Bankstown. Yesterday another family in desperate need of housing came to my electorate office. It is not good enough. At a time of unprecedented economic growth, it is critical that the Government prioritise supporting social housing in New South Wales. []

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (22:17:50):

I thank the member for Bankstown for her contribution, particularly as it related to youth homelessness. I acknowledge the wonderful contribution of community groups in not just Bankstown but all areas of Sydney, including the south-west. Wednesday 18 April was Youth Homelessness Matters Day. I acknowledge that the community needs to do more to relieve homelessness. The member for Bankstown mentioned homelessness statistics, and they are worrying with 42 per cent of homeless people being under the age of 25 and more than 28,000 Australians aged between 12 and 25 being homeless on any given night. I note that 70 per cent of homeless people leave home to escape family violence, child abuse or family breakdown. The first and most common way young people experience any form of homelessness is by couch surfing. Homelessness should be seen as an experience and not an identity. There needs to be an increasingly early identification and intervention process in homelessness, particularly youth homelessness