Jennie Burns: Homelessness crisis is a short spiral that affects thousands of West Aussies

At the age of 12, I was living in a homeless shelter. Today, in my 50s, I again find myself without a permanent home and those feelings of being anchor-less, of not having a sense of belonging, are once again front and centre. My situation today is vastly different from the one I found myself in several decades ago. The timing of a real estate purchase has gone awry. A short-term rental is impossible to come by. Friends have stepped into the breach, making sure I’m never without a bed for the night. But many West Australians whose circumstances have changed in an instant are not so fortunate. Thousands of people, of all ages and from all walks of life, don’t have a permanent roof over their head. Young families, grandparents, single women. Sleeping in cars, sheds, local parks. Others are couch surfing. Others feel compelled to stay in unsafe relationships because they simply have nowhere else to go. With the cost-of-living crisis pushing more and more people into housing stress, we’ve reached crisis point. Every day there are new, ever more alarming statistics. And it’s clear in each and every new report, survey and snapshot, that homelessness is not just about those sleeping rough on the streets. It’s also about the 58-year-old woman who left the husband who looked after all the finances. It’s about the 32-year old professional who fled her abusive partner. It’s about the 79-year-old granddad who can no longer afford his rent. It’s about the youth seeking safety from drink and drugs. It’s about the young parents who lost their home and stay silent, sleeping in their car, for fear they’ll lose their children too. So what can we do to halt the spiral? The WA Government’s investment in social housing is absolutely to be applauded and it is a big step in the right direction. But sadly, more social housing is too late for many people who currently find themselves without a roof over their head. It’s time to think about homelessness as needing more than just a crisis response. We also need to direct more energy and investment into crisis prevention. More transitional housing — the stepping stone between crisis and long-term stability — is part of the solution. This temporary accommodation provides not only a safe place to sleep in the short term, but also specialised support so that individuals and families experiencing homelessness can start to rebuild their lives. Without more transitional accommodation, programs that support people experiencing family and domestic violence, and alcohol and drug abuse are sadly undermined when there’s no next step into safe housing. But demand for transitional housing is vastly outstripping supply at the moment. We need more temporary accommodation so that more people who are currently homeless have the safety and security of knowing where they can sleep, wash and do something as simple as charge their phone. Early intervention programs and services are key too. MercyCare knows firsthand that a proactive preventative approach works. Whether it’s aged care, early learning, disability support, or family and youth services, providing timely information and assistance, along with genuine care and compassion, can help West Australians thrive, especially during times of vulnerability. Providing support services to young mothers and children living in transitional accommodation helps break the cycle of generational disadvantage. Working with families to reconnect broken relationships helps keep young people in safe environments. Tenancy support services help people maintain stable housing, avoid eviction and navigate complex systems such as Centrelink, the NDIS and mental health services. Programs focused on keeping at-risk young people engaged at school or work target key factors in youth homelessness. Financial counselling and emergency relief help prevent housing stress from escalating into homelessness. Homelessness is a complex issue, but one thing is clear: addressing homelessness needs whole-of-government action. It needs to be part of every minister’s portfolio. From housing and education, to health, justice and regional development, homelessness, or the risk of homelessness, has a touch-point in every facet of life in WA. Which is why the answer to our homelessness crisis is not just more social housing. We need to make sure we are pouring just as many resources into prevention; not just turning the tide, but making sure we never reach crisis point again. Everybody deserves to have that sense of belonging, that sense of being anchored, that comes with having your own space. No matter what curve balls life has thrown at them. Jennie Burns is MercyCare’s family and community services executive director