Sunshine Coast Council has outlined its strategies – including “enforcement” when necessary – for homeless people who stay overnight in public areas.
The local authority stated that it was doing what it could to help those sleeping rough but “enforcement action” was used as “a last resort”.
It comes after Moreton Bay, Brisbane and Gold Coast councils reportedly made moves to crack down on homeless people who bedded down in parks.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said homelessness was a complex problem and there were concerted efforts to resolve it.
“Council recognises that housing affordability and homelessness is a significant, distressing and ongoing issue for some people living on the Sunshine Coast,” they said.
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“We have held numerous meetings with those living with homelessness to understand how we can work together in responding to this issue.
“Council’s process for managing persons experiencing homelessness in public spaces will continue to focus on engagement and connection.”
The spokesperson said council officers took the following approaches:
- Work closely with state government services to link people with options for housing and support and assist to escalate support for people at high risk, such as children and people leaving domestic violence situations.
- Provide information and directions to persons who are camping illegally.
- Enforcement action is always a last resort.
- Where the issue relates to anti-social or unlawful behaviour, such as drug use or theft, the Queensland Police Service is contacted as these matters fall under their jurisdiction.
Sunshine Coast News asked the council what type of “enforcement action” was used and what was deemed “last resort” but was awaiting a response.
The number of people estimated to be experiencing homelessness in the region increased by 54 per cent, from 785 in 2016 to 1205 in 2021, according to the most recent data by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
That figure is likely to have significantly grown since then, in line with the broader trends in Queensland that are driven by escalated living costs and housing demand outstripping supply.
Temporary campsites have emerged around the region, including at Nambour, where a fire broke out recently.
SCN was told, last year, that council “does not consider people experiencing homelessness to be camping”, amid reports of people sleeping at a Bli Bli car park.
“In cases where people are camping illegally, council generally educates in the first instance and issues infringements where unlawful camping continues. The infringement for camping unlawfully is $309,” a spokesperson said.
The spokesperson detailed some of the measures that council took to help the homeless.
“Council has funded a public space liaison officer position to support people experiencing homelessness in public spaces,” they said.
“We are providing identified community organisations which deliver affordable housing on the Sunshine Coast with a 100 per cent rebate on standard council infrastructure charges until 2028.
“This rebate supports council’s Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2023 and will support more housing, including separate housing, boarding and emergency facilities, to be delivered for those who needed it most.”
The spokesperson said homelessness was an issue that needed a broad response.
“We continue to advocate to other levels of government for action to address housing availability, reduce homelessness and deliver more affordable housing choices,” they said.
“Homelessness is a situation that is difficult to quickly rectify and all tiers of government – local, state and federal – as well as the private sector, including relevant industry associations and peak bodies, and the community housing sector need to work together to effectively address the current situation.”
A Moreton Bay Council spokesperson said that it was illegal to camp or store goods on public land in the region.
The council can issue compliance notices for people to move on.
“If people fail to comply, all items will be removed from public land … for later collection,” the spokesperson stated.
Brisbane and Gold Coast councils have been contacted for comment amid reports that homeless people in public spaces have been told to relocate.
If you are experiencing homelessness or domestic and family violence you can call: Housing Service Centre phone (07) 5352 7333; Homeless Hotline phone 1800 474 753; DVConnect phone 1800 811 811. The Sunshine Coast Housing and Homelessness Directory contains details for organisations that are providing services to people experiencing homelessness.
