The humanity of homelessness

We are all three decisions away from homelessness. Jen Webster explores how we can all help retain humanity no matter the circumstances.

I began commuting to the city for the first time in my working life in 2016. I would get off the bus at Wynyard and see a man sitting on a street corner, then another person up the road and a woman outside the QVB building. It shocked me that in a country as wealthy as Australia, there would be any need for people to be sitting, sleeping or begging on the street.

I met *Robert in 2017, a lovely, gentle man. Robert had lived on the Northern Beaches. He told me proudly he’d had a good contract job, a big house, two cars and a wife and three children. Robert had a workplace accident which required a long recovery period, and he couldn’t earn an income during this time. He became depressed. His marriage broke up. To enable his wife and children to stay in the house, Robert moved out. He quickly learned there is very little affordable housing to someone on a disability pension. After using up his savings to stay in cheap motels and temporary accommodation, Robert found himself without any form of housing for the first time in his life.

The sad reality for people in Robert’s situation is that there simply isn’t enough social and affordable housing for people on low incomes. There are not enough places for domestic violence survivors. There is not enough suitable accommodation for young people living with a disability, so they are placed into aged care facilities. It is dire. Governments at various levels have been systemically selling off social housing for urban development. The rate at which they are building new properties is not keeping pace with the need. NGOs are left to fill the gap.

Who is at risk

There is a common expression that says we are all three decisions away from homelessness – you could lose a job, go through a relationship breakdown, become overcommitted financially, experience incarceration or develop a disability. There are many reasons, and this makes it so important not to judge another person’s situation – because you never know what they’ve gone through.

What causes homelessness

A major cause of youth and adult homelessness is childhood trauma. An organisation I worked at estimated that 90% of the people attending the service had some form of childhood trauma. I learnt that many people have a truly tough start in their lives, and breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty, family violence, harms from substance use, is very challenging.

How you can help

The most impactful thing you can do – and it’s free! – is to smile at a person sitting on the street. Acknowledge their humanity. Say hello. Many friends tell me is that the worst thing about experiencing homeless is that you become invisible. That people walk right past you.

Other suggestions are:

• Ask someone if they need anything and buy it for them
• Give cash to people on the street – this is called dignity of choice. It’s no one’s place to judge what they spend the money on
• Support Big Issue vendors
• Volunteer at a service that supports people experiencing homelessness, you’ll be surprised to learn that you receive more than you give
• If you have the financial capacity, donate to a charity or cause that you believe in.

Many charities and other non-government organisations play an important role in the lives of people experiencing homelessness. Not only do these essential services provide food, clothing, training, activities, free legal advice, medical checks and social support, they help to foster a sense of community. Connection is important for all of us, more so if you live on the margins of society.