Accordwest is stepping up its mission to support more people in the South West and make homelessness a rare, brief, and one-time occurrence by launching a two-week tour designed to connect the community, break down barriers, and bring people together. Visiting five towns in the South West from October 2-13, the ‘Hello Roadshow’ will invite locals from all walks of life and circumstances to come hang out or help out and access services they need.
The Roadshow also hopes to spark life-changing conversations, with community members invited to share their lived experiences and reveal how the consequences of homelessness impact their lives, however big or small. Insights and stories heard will be used to paint a richer and fuller picture of homelessness – and its contributing factors – across the South West, so that governments and other organisations can better understand what’s going on, and we can work together to co-create solutions.
Accordwest CEO Evan Nunn is excited about what the initiative can achieve, not only for vulnerable people in the South West, but other regional communities.
“The last few years have taught us that connecting with your community is everything,” he explained. “That’s especially true for those of us doing it tough or sleeping rough. People in this situation often experience devastating isolation, and that can change when we say ‘hello’ and show our true compassion as West Australians.
“The Hello Roadshow is shaping up as the South West’s biggest meet and greet, where locals and businesses can gather together to connect, catch up, and access information and practical help. A big part of these days is breaking down stereotypes of those sleeping rough or doing it tough and just saying, ‘Hello, kaya, kia ora. We see you, you’re not invisible and your story matters’.
“So, we’re using that community connection as an opportunity to share experiences. By compiling the most up-to-date first-hand accounts of people experiencing homelessness, we can advocate on their behalf to drive policy change, which in turn will impact the services we and other service providers in the region deliver, and enhance our ability to meet real needs.
“Whether you have your own story to tell, or you just want to learn more, we welcome everyone in the community to come along.”
Census 2021 estimated over 122,494 people experience homelessness each day in Australia (ABS, 2021). In Western Australia, about 9,000 people experience homelessness daily, with a greater proportion of clients in WA needing accommodation than nationally (66% and 60% respectively). Of those people, only one in 111 people received homelessness assistance in WA during 2021 to 2022 – far lower than the national rate of one in 94 (AIWA, 2022).
Mr Nunn believes that painting a clearer picture of what people are experiencing will help all levels of government to gain ground on the issue, then enhance and adapt policies and funding of services to enable more targeted service delivery.
“We really believe that we will end homelessness in the South West together,” he said. “To do that, we need to look at the whole picture. Right now, we’re treating it as only a housing issue. If we look only through a housing lens, which it is as well, we will miss the many other deep social, health and economic issues it intersects with.”
Some of those issues were confirmed in the Census, which revealed that of those experiencing homelessness, there is a significant overrepresentation of people with health conditions, mental health issues and substance use issues, as well as young people, and people who have been exposed to family or domestic violence. Further, Indigenous Western Australians comprised a huge 29.1% of the homeless population – a concerning statistic considering people identifying as Aboriginal make up only 3.1% of WA’s overall population (WAAEH, August 2022).
Mr Nunn argues that when we say hello, help people feel that they can tell their story, and actively listen, this will open the floodgates to genuine positive change by acting as the catalyst for making more people ‘visible’ to the system.
“We continue to see many locals in need who can’t access homelessness support services because they don’t fit the outdated criteria,” he explained. “These people have stories to tell that will be hugely beneficial in helping us understand not only how we can support more people, but what it takes to break the cycle and prevent more people in the South West from being pushed into sleeping on couches, streets and car seats in the first place.
“We want to get their stories in front of the people that make funding decisions on policy and with the power to influence change in regional WA and the South West,” he said.
To find out more about the Accordwest Hello Roadshow, and share your stories of homelessness, click here or visit weseeyouwa.com.au
HELLO Bunbury – Monday 02nd October (10-4). Koolambidi Woola (Youth Precinct), Bunbury.
HELLO Collie – Wednesday 04th October (10-4). Central Park, Collie.
HELLO Manjimup – Friday 06th October (10-4). Timber Park, Manjimup.
HELLO Margaret River – Monday 08th October (10-4). Margaret River, Community Centre.
HELLO Busselton – Wednesday 11th October (10-3). Mitchell Park, Kent St, Busselton.
PREVIOUS SUCCESSES: TINY HOUSES
Accordwest has a proven track record of bringing the community together to deliver successful outcomes. The Tiny Houses initiative is designed to offer supported relief for people experiencing homelessness by providing the foundational security of a home, giving residents the time and space to get back on their feet. It consists of three 30m² self-contained ‘transitional accommodation’ dwellings placed on vacant land in Bunbury, fitted with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom facilities. Each Tiny House tenant works with a dedicated Housing Support Worker to secure long term accommodation, mapping out personal goals and actions to regain control of their lives. The Tiny Houses will be removed after a short lease and relocated to where they’re most needed.
The project has been an overwhelming success. As part of a detailed review in June 2023, clients have expressed an appreciation of Tiny Housing in the current housing crisis. Some who felt they were completely alone and had no security said they now felt secure and safe. Some expressed how they could finally breathe, were no longer worried and had peace of mind on a daily basis. Multiple clients spoke about how the Tiny Houses saved their life, helping them on their journey to “rebuild” their life and themself, and allowing them to keep their job and their car. Several clients said the alternative would be to sleep on the streets, with one expressing that as an older woman, she would not have been able to survive in her car or on the streets for much longer.
Accordwest’s Tiny House Project demonstrated how partnerships between community organisations, local businesses, the local community and State Government work effectively to address homelessness. The financial viability of the project was made possible thanks to a generous $180,000 government grant, together with in-kind work and community support and passion. Many other local agencies became involved, both in building, support and assisting the majority of clients to transition to long-term housing.
HOMELESSNESS IN WA
Between 2016 and 2021:
- The rate of homelessness increased in WA
- The proportion of rough sleeping in Australia was highest in WA
- The number of people experiencing homelessness in WA increased by 724 people (up 8 per cent)
- The number of people couch surfing in WA increased from 1,950 to 2,125 (up 8.9 per cent)
(ABS, 2021)