ABOVE: Niamh O'Brien, from Drug Arm, pictured with regular Brian Crump. Niamh is on the Street Library Working Party and co-coordinates the Southport branch, which sets up each Monday morning at Tuesley Park.
Helping the homeless - in more ways than one
Dal Withers catches up on some reading in the shade
The current decrease in the number of homeless and houseless people has given rise to alternative services, all aimed to reduce the hardships they experience. Jessica O’Donnell reports.
The wind ripped through the narrow trees, shaking the branches under the darkening sky. Despite the weather, it was a good turnout. About 35-40 people were scattered throughout Tuesley Park, all anticipating the moment when the books would be put on display.
“They always come out of the wood work,” Ian McDougall said, scanning the crowd.
Mr McDougall is a permanent volunteer at the Street Library, a donation-based charity aimed to provide homeless and houseless people with a place to come for books and reading material, as well as a healthy meal from the local Rosies van that swings by at the same time every Monday morning.
“While the library was established to fill an identified need, its role is not just a source of books,” Mr McDougall believes, “the people appreciate someone taking the time to listen and ask us all sorts of questions.”
Mr McDougall is aided by Niamh O’Brien, a representative of Drug Arm Australia, a non-profit and non-government agency helping those in need of rehabilitation awareness for drug and substance issues.
The Street Library is just shy of celebrating its first anniversary, and Miss O’Brien recognises the special place it has earned in the community in such a short time. “The conversations that it creates here among this community, and knowing they have support is a part of what we’re trying to achieve.”
Though helped by Drug Arm Australia, the Street Library is in fact a service provided by the Gold Coast Homelessness Network, a central figure in raising awareness for the plight of the homeless community on the Gold Coast.
So far, the Street Library visits two locations, Southport and Coolangatta, but there is always hope for further expansion.
The latest homelessness figures from the 2006 National Census showed a drop in the rate of homeless people compared to 2001. Just over 89, 700 people were considered homeless in 2006, a 6 per cent drop since 2001.
However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has revised its definition of homeless to account for the significant difference between the number of homeless, houseless and at risk people.
According to Rosies, homelessness is an emotional condition that exists due to an “absence of social, family, and community networks” while houseless is an absence of a physical structure.
Only eight per cent of people considered homeless actually live in impoverished dwellings, such as sleeping rough on the streets. While an individual can be both homeless and houseless, one is not depend on the other.
As such, the ABS amended its definition of homelessness to include not just unsuitable accommodation alternatives, but also if a person’s current living arrangement is:
Most who visit the Street Library are considered homeless, but the majority do not live on the streets.
Though some stick to themselves and others stay in their own circle, the Street Library provides a permanent weekly meeting place for those desiring social interaction that they would be unable to find in their everyday lives.
Dal Withers, a regular who has been visiting the Street Library since it first opened, is a prime example of someone who can benefit from the service.
“I had a stroke about 20 years ago and I’m by myself, so it’s good that I can come down and talk to people, get a good book and get a free meal.”
The wind ripped through the narrow trees, shaking the branches under the darkening sky. Despite the weather, it was a good turnout. About 35-40 people were scattered throughout Tuesley Park, all anticipating the moment when the books would be put on display.
“They always come out of the wood work,” Ian McDougall said, scanning the crowd.
Mr McDougall is a permanent volunteer at the Street Library, a donation-based charity aimed to provide homeless and houseless people with a place to come for books and reading material, as well as a healthy meal from the local Rosies van that swings by at the same time every Monday morning.
“While the library was established to fill an identified need, its role is not just a source of books,” Mr McDougall believes, “the people appreciate someone taking the time to listen and ask us all sorts of questions.”
Mr McDougall is aided by Niamh O’Brien, a representative of Drug Arm Australia, a non-profit and non-government agency helping those in need of rehabilitation awareness for drug and substance issues.
The Street Library is just shy of celebrating its first anniversary, and Miss O’Brien recognises the special place it has earned in the community in such a short time. “The conversations that it creates here among this community, and knowing they have support is a part of what we’re trying to achieve.”
Though helped by Drug Arm Australia, the Street Library is in fact a service provided by the Gold Coast Homelessness Network, a central figure in raising awareness for the plight of the homeless community on the Gold Coast.
So far, the Street Library visits two locations, Southport and Coolangatta, but there is always hope for further expansion.
The latest homelessness figures from the 2006 National Census showed a drop in the rate of homeless people compared to 2001. Just over 89, 700 people were considered homeless in 2006, a 6 per cent drop since 2001.
However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has revised its definition of homeless to account for the significant difference between the number of homeless, houseless and at risk people.
According to Rosies, homelessness is an emotional condition that exists due to an “absence of social, family, and community networks” while houseless is an absence of a physical structure.
Only eight per cent of people considered homeless actually live in impoverished dwellings, such as sleeping rough on the streets. While an individual can be both homeless and houseless, one is not depend on the other.
As such, the ABS amended its definition of homelessness to include not just unsuitable accommodation alternatives, but also if a person’s current living arrangement is:
- in a dwelling deemed “inadequate”,
- has no tenure, or if their tenure is short and not extendable and
- does not allow them to have control or access to social relations
Most who visit the Street Library are considered homeless, but the majority do not live on the streets.
Though some stick to themselves and others stay in their own circle, the Street Library provides a permanent weekly meeting place for those desiring social interaction that they would be unable to find in their everyday lives.
Dal Withers, a regular who has been visiting the Street Library since it first opened, is a prime example of someone who can benefit from the service.
“I had a stroke about 20 years ago and I’m by myself, so it’s good that I can come down and talk to people, get a good book and get a free meal.”
Ian McDougall with happy reader Grahame Donaghee
Another regular, Graham Donaghee, has been visiting the Street Library since it first started scattering the books on its fold up table unceremoniously.
Like most visitors, life has not come easy to him and first started visiting the makeshift library after coming to the Rosies van. “I’ve been coming to Rosies for four years and I’ve only just noticed the street library,” he says jokingly, “alright, I’ve been coming ever since it opened.”
Unsurprisingly, most visitors to the Street Library are males.
According to the ABS, just over half of all homeless people are male; approximately 57 per cent. However, despite the fact that six in 10 homeless people are under 35 years of age, most of the visitors are significantly older.
Against those odds, Miss O’Brien doesn’t believe that older women are at a disadvantage. “Everyone seeks help through different ways and we can refer them to other services.”
The library has been the first point of call for many visitors, and there is hope for expanding its services to include reading circles to help those with literacy and numeracy difficulties.
This cause is close to the heart of Mr McDougall, a former journalist who writes a weekly piece on the comings and goings of the visitors.
“Some voluntarily broach their literacy and numeracy difficulties, which is unusual and a testament to their trust. They appreciate the personal attention and recognition as individuals who have their own place in the world, who have a story to tell.”
The Street Library, though there at the same time as the Rosies van, is not run in conjunction with the charity, rather, the Street Library is an added bonus.
The volunteers recognise the help that Rosies provides, and understands the social interaction the service provides, opening the door for similar organisations.
“Without them, we wouldn’t be here. And it always helps that people come for the food and leave with the books,” says Mr McDougall.
Homelessness awareness has become a major push for the Australian Federal Government since 2008 when then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd stated his goal to halve homelessness by the year 2020.
Though he is no longer in power, the Gillard government has continued this goal. About $5 billion has been invested in services to aid the homeless since 2008, and the government has pledged even more to the cause.
Like most visitors, life has not come easy to him and first started visiting the makeshift library after coming to the Rosies van. “I’ve been coming to Rosies for four years and I’ve only just noticed the street library,” he says jokingly, “alright, I’ve been coming ever since it opened.”
Unsurprisingly, most visitors to the Street Library are males.
According to the ABS, just over half of all homeless people are male; approximately 57 per cent. However, despite the fact that six in 10 homeless people are under 35 years of age, most of the visitors are significantly older.
Against those odds, Miss O’Brien doesn’t believe that older women are at a disadvantage. “Everyone seeks help through different ways and we can refer them to other services.”
The library has been the first point of call for many visitors, and there is hope for expanding its services to include reading circles to help those with literacy and numeracy difficulties.
This cause is close to the heart of Mr McDougall, a former journalist who writes a weekly piece on the comings and goings of the visitors.
“Some voluntarily broach their literacy and numeracy difficulties, which is unusual and a testament to their trust. They appreciate the personal attention and recognition as individuals who have their own place in the world, who have a story to tell.”
The Street Library, though there at the same time as the Rosies van, is not run in conjunction with the charity, rather, the Street Library is an added bonus.
The volunteers recognise the help that Rosies provides, and understands the social interaction the service provides, opening the door for similar organisations.
“Without them, we wouldn’t be here. And it always helps that people come for the food and leave with the books,” says Mr McDougall.
Homelessness awareness has become a major push for the Australian Federal Government since 2008 when then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd stated his goal to halve homelessness by the year 2020.
Though he is no longer in power, the Gillard government has continued this goal. About $5 billion has been invested in services to aid the homeless since 2008, and the government has pledged even more to the cause.
The Street Library also visits the annual Homeless Connect event.
However, Liz Fritz, manager of the Blair Athol Accommodation and Support Program, one of the largest crisis centres on the Gold Coast, believes that the biggest problem facing the homeless and houseless community is affordable housing, not lack of support groups.
“There aren’t enough long term housing services, and we don’t need more crisis services. With more housing services, people could move quickly and directly into housing.”
Though unable to back up with statistics until the latest census results are released in November this year, Ms Fritz has noticed a dramatic increase in the number of people who are at risk of homelessness. “Certainly, there are more people struggling to keep a roof over their heads and more people struggling to sustain their tenancy in the current economic and political time.”
Despite the number of crisis centres and support groups, there is still a lot to be done to help the homeless and houseless community on the Gold Coast, and Australia wide.
Organisations like the Street Library, though designed to provide a practical service of handing out books, does much more than that. By lending an ear and a weekly social outing, the Street Library establishes connections in the homeless community, where none seem to lack an optimistic attitude
“Life has been very, very, very good to me in every way but you only get what you give and I’ve got it all,” states Graham emphatically.
“There aren’t enough long term housing services, and we don’t need more crisis services. With more housing services, people could move quickly and directly into housing.”
Though unable to back up with statistics until the latest census results are released in November this year, Ms Fritz has noticed a dramatic increase in the number of people who are at risk of homelessness. “Certainly, there are more people struggling to keep a roof over their heads and more people struggling to sustain their tenancy in the current economic and political time.”
Despite the number of crisis centres and support groups, there is still a lot to be done to help the homeless and houseless community on the Gold Coast, and Australia wide.
Organisations like the Street Library, though designed to provide a practical service of handing out books, does much more than that. By lending an ear and a weekly social outing, the Street Library establishes connections in the homeless community, where none seem to lack an optimistic attitude
“Life has been very, very, very good to me in every way but you only get what you give and I’ve got it all,” states Graham emphatically.
