This Weeks Program: Homelessness in Wagga
We bore witness this week to the homelessness situation in Wagga as presented by President of Wagga Women's Health, Vickie Burkinshaw and advocates for the homeless, Leigh Swansborough & Tim Verhoef.
When circumstances change, anyone can become homeless at any time. Little things add up and can quickly become an issue. The necessary support mechanisms don’t exist for men released from jail transitioning back into community, aging women following divorce or death of a partner, women and children escaping domestic and family violence and those couch-surfing staying with family or friends.
Currently, there are no motel rooms available in Wagga to provide temporary accommodation. These rooms are very short-term and have no cooking facilities, often curfew times to go to bed and restrict the number of bags to take with them. No pets such as dogs & cats are not allowed.
| Housing & Homelessness | 702 waiting • 1,195 social homes • 1 in 10 post‑war • 1 in 50 now • 7–10 yrs wait |
| Daily Reality | 2,308 rough sleepers • Services 5 pm • Pack up 5 pm • Toilets 7 am |
Possibilities to change the situation:
▪ Home Share: Spare rooms can change lives. Many people live in large houses with empty rooms. What if there could be a carefully matched, safe, supported arrangement between someone with a spare room and someone needing a safe, affordable place to live? ▪ Repurpose an empty building: An empty or under-used building could be a safe place to sleep, shower, cook, store belongings or a place to start again, it doesn’t have to be permanent to become life changing. ▪ Land could become a village: Just as occurred after the Lismore floods, small self-contained homes can become a village with a safe place to live, a kitchen and bathroom, communal space, gardens, laundry, onsite support, access to services – and - a pathway to permanent housing.
Leigh & Tim fielded questions from the floor. Both have been advocating for those living rough at Wilks Park and along the riverbank. They drew on their personal interactions and knowledge of the issues being faced by those they are assisting and the arising frustrations of ‘the system letting these people down’.
Many are on a stepping-stone to nowhere as they are often illiterate, have mental health issues or addictions as well as no transport. Accessing services is challenging, especially after hours.
Examples of these challenges included having a medical episode and spending 9 hours at the ED, sleeping in the waiting room and then being moved on by security when no options were available. Limited places to be able to shower, options at Edel Quinn Men’s Shelter, Wagga Women’s Health Centre or the Oasis at a cost. Accessing these facilities with mobility issues or pain such as sciatica is not easy.
Completing the recent census was problematic and providing personal identification an issue when, misplaced, stolen or unavailable because it can’t be accessed because of technology issues.
Concerns were made around a potential flood situation and what would happen.
If people leave their encampments, these are often looted, belongings stolen or can be considered abandoned and then demolished by council. As a result, those sleeping rough are being forced to move further afield to stock routes and outlying areas such as Kohlhagen’s Beach and Oura.
John and Lesley Dare, formerly of Deloraine, Tasmania, asked whether neighbourhood houses exist in Wagga. These facilities provide access to meals, showers and laundry services. Leigh indicated Government agencies are generally not in favour of developing transitional housing with these facilities, but there is a clear need to establish a practical, sustainable solution.
Attendance this week: Bob Martin, Bruce Spinks, Colin Wiese, David Brady, David Gilbey, Debbie McGrath Deidre Tome, Fred Loneragan, Jenny Groch, Karen Jamieson, Marilyn Walter, Max Chapman, Michelle Swan, Peter Brown, Simon Swan Corporate Member: Sharon Ferguson, Bek Kelly Prospective Member: Helen Thatcher
Visiting Rotarians: South Wagga -Vicki Woodhouse, Chris Manwaring & Julie, James McIntyre, Milena Dunn; Kooringal - Phillip Tome; Wollundry- Peter & Gail Crozier, Phil Burgess; Wagga Wagga- Tony Blake, John Studdert, John & Lesley Dare
Speakers: Vickie Burkinshaw, Tim Verhoef, Leigh Swansborough,
Guests: Alison Wiese, Ron Walter, Rob Fraser
