Homelessness in Perth And how Southern Hills Christian

Homelessness in Perth And how Southern Hills Christian College can help 1

The Problem � In the midst of Perth’s thriving prosperity live 000 s of homeless people ◦ 9, 600 in WA (42. 8 people per 10, 000) ◦ 5, 000 in Perth � 56% male, � Staying in: ◦ ◦ ◦ 10% 14% 43% 23% 1% 44% female Improvised dwellings, tents or sleeping out Supported accommodation for the homeless Boarding houses “Severely” overcrowded dwellings Staying temporarily with other households Other temporary lodging

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Consequences - Personal �Poor educational outcomes - lower lifetime income �Poor physical health; exacerbation of existing conditions �Mental health and well-being impacts �Drug and alcohol dependency �Participation in crime; justice consequences �Violence against the person �Social exclusion �Alienation, boredom and difficult social relationships

Consequences - Young People �Research has shown: ◦ Those who first experience homelessness at a young age are more likely to experience persistent homelessness in adulthood �Young people who experience homelessness are more likely to: ◦ disengage with education and employment ◦ be exposed to factors which are detrimental to their health such as drug use, inadequate nutrition, limited access to medical care and school, unsafe sexual encounters and violence �Homelessness costs to the Australian community increase the longer a person has been homeless

Consequences – to the State � Direct specialist homelessness service � Indirect costs on mainstream services ◦ ◦ ◦ Health Mental health Drug and alcohol Justice Child protection � Higher income support payments � Long term economic impacts: ◦ Productivity ◦ Available workforce ◦ Economic growth costs

How can Chisholm CC Help? 8

Health Problems � Homeless people have the most difficult health problems: ◦ ◦ Physical Health Mental Health Substance abuse Daily danger of violence, injury and abuse � Caught in a vicious cycle of repeat hospitalisation � Poor health hinders a person’s ability to find employment, which keeps them stuck in homelessness � Once homeless, health deteriorates rapidly and life expectancy falls to 45 years

Foot Infections � Homeless people get a wide range of foot infections ◦ Once trench foot or warm water immersion foot has developed healing occurs only when the feet are cleaned, dried and exposed to air for weeks ◦ The best treatment is prevention and the best prevention is to wear clean dry socks every day �A homeless person with a history of this is 8 times more likely to die in the next 5 years compared to a person who is not homeless

“Socks in the City” Campaign �Desperately need socks ◦ Preferably new socks in natural fibres; mostly cotton or wool, not nylon �People can either gather socks OR. . �Donate through the web site – www. socksinthecity. com. au ◦ $5 buys 2 pairs of new socks for homeless people

Homeless Healthcare � Socks will be distributed through Homeless Healthcare ◦ They provide mobile GP services to the homeless of metropolitan Perth ◦ Using vehicles set up with the basic equipment of a GP surgery � Based in West Leederville � They typically attend drop-in centres and regular homeless locations � Services provided free or through Medicare bulk billing