The sun was shining bright and warm on Wednesday morning. But the forecast for the coming days was ominous. A cold front is approaching and with it wild winds and plummeting temperatures. That lent considerable urgency to the gathering assembled at the entertainment centre, at the mayor’s invitation, to discuss ways to alleviate the problem of homelessness in the Shoalhaven.
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The gathering involved members of welfare agencies, councils, the churches, local police, parliamentarians and the media. It came on the back of several stories about the plight of a growing band of homeless people camped at Nowra Showground during winter.
The Register had run a campaign under the banner Give Them Shelter. Our aim was not to try to address the complex issue of homelessness. There’s a community of experts who’ve been working for years on the problem.
Rather, we wanted to some kind of temporary shelter made available for homeless people during times of extreme weather. We were moved by the observation by the Homeless Hub’s Kerri Snowden. We wouldn’t allow our dogs out in that kind of weather, she said, but we’re happy to leave humans out in cold, wind and rain.
At first, it appeared the forum was only hearing obstacles to the simple act of opening up church halls and council buildings, including the pavilion at the showground. Insurance, government regulations, supervision … all were thrown up as impediments. Police were concerned that if word spread about a weather shelter more homeless people would gravitate to the showground.
The meeting was told that despite the pavilion being designated as an evacuation centre in times of natural disaster, state regulations did not cover it being used as a temporary shelter for homeless people.
While a senior council officer said there were hurdles to opening up a temporary shelter these were not insurmountable. However, the pavilion has been booked out for the time being.
The Register pushed to have something set up by the end of this winter so that when the cold returns next year, some temporary shelter is available. Whether that happens remains to be seen. However, we are heartened so many people saw the issue as important enough to invest time in.
We are hopeful the working group formed after the forum will succeed so suffering is alleviated next winter.