What are the best ways to fight homelessness?
IT IS Homelessness Awareness
Week.
And the chamber team is putting themselves into the shoes of the homeless for one night, by joining with many others of the Toowoomba community to raise money.
It is a Base Services Incorporated initiative that strives to raise awareness of this important issue.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics says that when a person does not have suitable accommodation alternatives, they are considered homeless if their current living arrangement: ■ is in a dwelling that is inadequate;
■ has no tenure, or if their initial tenure is short and not extendible; or
■ does not allow them to have control of, and access to space for social relations.
Common reasons for homelessness include unemployment or by a shortage of affordable housing, family breakdowns, mental illness, and the like.
The biggest cause of homelessness in Australia is domestic violence.
According to Homelessness Australia, more than 105,000 people are considered homeless and almost seven million nights of accommodation were provided by specialist homelessness services in 2014-15.
The cost of homelessness to the community is estimated to be in excess of $27,000 per year, per person, with the cost increasing the longer a person is homeless.
Clearly, the cost to the community, economy and individuals is enormous.
In my opinion there are two critical elements to unlocking homelessness – employment and affordable housing.
One, small businesses provide an estimated 50% of all jobs.
Jobs give people hope.
Jobs are critical to identity and health.
Jobs create the possibility of developing a secure future.
And two, the shortage of affordable and available rental homes is continuing to make getting out of homelessness difficult.
In terms of improving housing affordability, the best bet is to provide more housing and a range of housing stock to meet housing needs.
Who is best placed at delivery on new housing quickly and efficiently? The business sector. Government just needs to provide a simpler path and get out of the way. Simple as that.
Base Services Incorporated and all the other service providers in Toowoomba need to be acknowledged and congratulated.
The pathways you provide by working with training and skilling individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness is not unnoticed.
THE BIGGEST CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTRALIA IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
TODD ROHL, CHAMBER CEO