Bikers support Parramatta homeless
More than 100 bikes roared into Parramatta Mall on Sunday 7 August in support of Parramatta’s Homeless Person’s Week 2011.
Loaded with donations of blankets for the homeless, members of the Brotherhood of Christian Motorcycle Clubs and Bikers Australia were there to highlight the plight of the homeless and lend a helping hand to ANGLICARE’s Street Outreach program and Parramatta Mission.
Last year more than 100,000 Australians were homeless, without safe, secure or affordable housing. One in every 154 Australians sought help from a homeless assistance service and one in every 39 children aged under four slept in a homeless service.
For ANGLICARE Street Outreach Coordinator, Stan Small, homelessness is more than your stereotypical image of someone sleeping rough on the streets.
“Most of the time you wouldn’t be aware of people who were in desperate need of safe and secure accommodation. Many have temporary accommodation with family or friends and find themselves couch surfing from one place to another. Others might accept accommodation with people they may not feel safe around, just to avoid sleeping on the streets,” says Stan.
“People who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can be young or old, single or part of a family. Whatever the circumstances, homelessness can happen to anyone from any stage of life.”
Some of the causes of homelessness are poverty, unemployment and a critical shortage of affordable housing. Domestic violence, family breakdown, mental illness, addiction are also some other factors that can lead to homelessness.
For the many young people at risk Stan and his team helps, one of the primary reasons for homelessness is family breakdown.
“There are a lot of issues of neglect or abuse in the family home that can often drive young people out. They don’t have good role models or can cop a lot of bad situations at home and they leave mostly because home is an unsafe place to be,” Stan explains.
“What is concerning is the lack of safe and secure housing options for people.”
A recent report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare highlights that half the people who request immediate accommodation from homeless service providers are turned away every day. Two in every three children who need support are also turned away, as are almost 80 per cent of families.
