20 October 2012

Common Ground homelessness project

| clj
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The Common Ground Canberra project recently released these videos full of information on homelessness in Canberra, how a Common Ground style project would help, and featuring Mike Zissler (Chief Executive of Lifeline Canberra) doing his very own sleepout to find out a bit more about what it’s like to be homeless in this notoriously freezing city of ours (they made it over the winter). Definitely worth a watch if you have a few spare minutes.

Video 1: Introduction to homelessness in Canberra, featuring Richard and Danielle and St John’s Care’s Sue Jordan.

Video 2: The CEO of Lifeline Canberra swaps his suit for a sleeping bag

Video 3: Solutions for Canberra

This project has been successful all over the world, including in Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney and Hobart in Australia. It could be just what Canberra needs?

(I’m not so much an astroturfer as a lurker, but I know this community has been interested in Common Ground before so I wanted to share these with you.)

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Hacketthead said :

Maybe this will help out that pest who hangs around Woden with a cardboard sign stating he is homeless and hungry. I dunno, he looks able bodied to me. And I’ve heard he used to sell The Big Issue but abused people who wouldn’t buy from him. One day I was walking along and a lady in front of me said to him, “No I am not giving you any money – some time ago I offered you work, and you told me where to go”. This joker has no sympathy from me. I’d rather support The Big Issue than this freeloader.

Sounds like he has the same set of moral standards as the repulsive nutbag who loops around Garema Place on his hand-painted bike screaming about his ex-girlfriend and occasionally stopping to relieve some good samaritan of their pocket change only to walk directly into the ACTTAB and siphon it through their coffers..

Girt_Hindrance8:41 pm 13 Nov 12

Hacketthead said :

Maybe this will help out that pest who hangs around Woden with a cardboard sign stating he is homeless and hungry. I dunno, he looks able bodied to me. And I’ve heard he used to sell The Big Issue but abused people who wouldn’t buy from him. One day I was walking along and a lady in front of me said to him, “No I am not giving you any money – some time ago I offered you work, and you told me where to go”. This joker has no sympathy from me. I’d rather support The Big Issue than this freeloader.

If you are referring to the gent with red hair, unfortunately I’ve seen him in the Woden Tradies, turning peoples generous donations into poker machine fill.

Sad but true.

Maybe this will help out that pest who hangs around Woden with a cardboard sign stating he is homeless and hungry. I dunno, he looks able bodied to me. And I’ve heard he used to sell The Big Issue but abused people who wouldn’t buy from him. One day I was walking along and a lady in front of me said to him, “No I am not giving you any money – some time ago I offered you work, and you told me where to go”. This joker has no sympathy from me. I’d rather support The Big Issue than this freeloader.

miz said :

Just givin’ as good as I get. This IS a soapbox forum that I have been part of for a long time.

As opposed to being part of a community…something you obviously struggle with.

And now, of course, since the ABS reckons we’re the next worst after the Northern Territory for homelessness, maybe certain governments will be embarrassed enough to do something? The ABS count of rough sleepers is way under, by the way.

Admittedly what we need at least as much as crisis accommodation is somewhere for people to go next. The average length of stay in crisis accommodation is eerily similar to the the priority housing waiting list, since private rental is just too expensive. I guess Common Ground style setups are relatively long term and provide accommodation for low income earners as well, so it does help a bit with that too.

lol, so this got a bit off topic. Anyway I’ll be interested to see if it goes anywhere, certainly funding will be an issue, and sadly the Canberra Times didn’t mention it at all. But I’m glad Shane Rattenbury got the Housing ministry at least, the Greens have been a lot more open to working with the community sector on homelessness than Labor (as far as I know).

Just givin’ as good as I get. This IS a soapbox forum that I have been part of for a long time.

we have this sort of facility about 100 metres from my house. Never an issue, ever.

Dunno, perhaps around here there’s less people scared of anyone who doesn’t look like them?

miz said :

Poetix, I note you did not offer your street. PS. you know nothing about me, so don’t assume you know how much rent I am paying (NOT a bargain). And for that matter, Housing ACT accommodation is not secure.
However, I now know that YOU are a hypocrite with a big mouth.
‘I would welcome this in my street’ is the point I made – given that it would actually DO something. How about you?
clj, appreciate your point, but the only ones we’ve seen so far are the tantrum-type ones who are getting rewarded for their uncooperative behaviour (and, of course, their loitering friends. Yay.)

So every single one of these kids is out of home because they threw tantrums and were uncooperative? Nothing more to their situation?

I really feel for you, people throwing around baseless assumptions about you and all…

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd7:54 pm 08 Nov 12

miz said :

Poetix, I note you did not offer your street. PS. you know nothing about me, so don’t assume you know how much rent I am paying (NOT a bargain). And for that matter, Housing ACT accommodation is not secure.
However, I now know that YOU are a hypocrite with a big mouth.
‘I would welcome this in my street’ is the point I made – given that it would actually DO something. How about you?
clj, appreciate your point, but the only ones we’ve seen so far are the tantrum-type ones who are getting rewarded for their uncooperative behaviour (and, of course, their loitering friends. Yay.)

Would happily have them in my street because I’m not a grade a pos even lower than mr g, like miz is.

Poetix, I note you did not offer your street. PS. you know nothing about me, so don’t assume you know how much rent I am paying (NOT a bargain). And for that matter, Housing ACT accommodation is not secure.
However, I now know that YOU are a hypocrite with a big mouth.
‘I would welcome this in my street’ is the point I made – given that it would actually DO something. How about you?
clj, appreciate your point, but the only ones we’ve seen so far are the tantrum-type ones who are getting rewarded for their uncooperative behaviour (and, of course, their loitering friends. Yay.)

Well I think that rather than sending homeless people to Cape York, it might be good to help people put their lives back together a bit, or at least have that option. The traumatic experience of homelessness is bad enough in the city you know let alone in one you don’t, away from any family, friends, caseworkers or others you might have any kind of relationship with. And since this program has done so well, both in Australia and around the world, I think it’s a good idea. Canberra does have a real need and we should be doing better.

And Miz, heaps of people have homelessness services near their houses, flats, flashy apartments even. They might not even know, since most have a confidential address for security; many homeless people are running from someone. If they’re throwing a tantrum, they usually go home after a couple of days at most – they won’t be in transitional housing.

miz said :

This is more like it – PERMANENT housing, so the homeless can become part of the community (not the daft transitional ‘cluster’ for transitional teens who have had a tantrum (and their loitering friends) which we have been lumped with in our street).

Here’s your chance, Rioters, for volunteer to have Common Ground set up near you . . . anyone? Hypocrites.

Using a thread on one solution to homelessness to criticise a proposal for young people in crisis. From the security of public housing provided to you at a bargain rate.

Stay classy.

This is more like it – PERMANENT housing, so the homeless can become part of the community (not the daft transitional ‘cluster’ for transitional teens who have had a tantrum (and their loitering friends) which we have been lumped with in our street).

Here’s your chance, Rioters, for volunteer to have Common Ground set up near you . . . anyone? Hypocrites.

wildturkeycanoe12:41 am 08 Nov 12

Not to take away from what is trying to be achieved here, I used to regularly go camping with just a sleeping bag, no mattress, in up to minus seven degrees. This was by choice, not by circumstance. No comfortable hidey hole with no wind, just out in the open or behind a rocky crag. Yes, I now probably have arthritis from it but people should learn to adapt. If living in central Canberra is too tough, go and rough it out elsewhere. How about the coasts of northern Australia? Yes, transport might be an issue but a bicycle isn’t that expensive, they give them away to revolve!! Pack your bags and tour Australia.
Before you all whinge about the people who aren’t able to do this – the over forties for example – could we see some footage of the older folks who can’t scan a product past an Aldi register for a couple of days a week to earn a bus ticket? I mean, C’mon, if the cold is all that stops the homeless leading a fruitful life then send ’em all up to cape york or something. Can it be more complex than that???? Talk about extremist advertising……

Update: to my great excitement, this project was specifically included by name in the Labor/Greens agreement. Thoughts anyone?

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