By Angela Dorizas
The number of people sleeping rough on Sydney’s streets this winter significantly decreased, according to the City of Sydney’s latest ‘street count’.
The latest bi-annual street count was carried out by 178 volunteers, including a group of 13 current and former homeless advisors, between 1am and 3am on August 17.
Areas counted included Wooloomooloo, Kings Cross, Paddington, the city centre, Glebe, Surry Hills, Ultimo and Redfern.
Volunteer teams found 289 homeless people sleeping rough in the city centre and surrounding suburbs – a 30 per cent decrease on last year’s winter count.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City was starting to see real and measurable results from its efforts to end chronic homelessness in Sydney by 2017.
“The City of Sydney’s Homelessness Unit staff along with volunteers and partners are working tirelessly to provide vital support and safe accommodation alternatives to sleeping rough,” she said in a statement.
The City of Sydney has developed a number of strategies to reach its goal of ending chronic homelessness by 2017, including a complex needs coordination project, a homelessness brokerage program, an information centre for homeless persons, participation in the Woolloomooloo Integrated Services Hubs and funding for the Way2Home outreach service.
“The drop in the number of people sleeping rough is partly due to the Way2Home assertive outreach service funded by the City, State and Federal governments, and our Complex Needs Coordination Project, which have helped 37 people off the streets and into supported accommodation and permanent housing,” Cr Moore said.
“But more needs to be done and I hope these street count results will strengthen the commitment of state and federal governments toward providing affordable housing and other support services for all who require them.”
Comment below to have your say on this story.
If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@governmentnews.com.au.
Sign up to the Government News newsletter
