1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,280 Speaker 1: Possible to move from the government to around homelessness. The 2 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: government seeking urgent advice after these reports showing a sharp rise. 3 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: Tougher criteria was introduced last year. It requires applicants to 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: prove they hadn't contributed to their own housing need. Paul 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: Barber's senior policy and analysts with the Sellies as well 6 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:16,480 Speaker 1: as Paul Morning. 7 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 2: Thank you good money. 8 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: Have you got a feel for how many people are 9 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: choosing this lifestyle as opposed to being forced into it? 10 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 2: Well, I think it's not a lifestyle choice. So almost 11 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 2: all the people are on the street, and certainly for 12 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 2: the people you know the rapid rise as seen in 13 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 2: numbers recently, it's definitely more about things that are happening 14 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 2: to them for them that have led to them being homeless. 15 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,880 Speaker 1: Well, so when you say that Mark Mitchell, Antonia Taps 16 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: or the mirror of Roda Rua say exactly the opposite, 17 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: for some that it is a choice. So who do 18 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: I believe. 19 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 2: Well, I would ask you to think about at the 20 00:00:56,080 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 2: moment the situation of people who are living sleeping, they're 21 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 2: living in cars, they're living in really unstable situations. And 22 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 2: for most people it's not about a choice. It's about 23 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 2: being forced, for instance, losing their housing, being in a 24 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 2: situation for instance, you've maybe been come out of prison 25 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,400 Speaker 2: or ourn mental health service and there just hasn't been 26 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,839 Speaker 2: anywhere to go to. That's the kind of situation people 27 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 2: are in. 28 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: Chris Bosham Barby argued over the weekend, this one this 29 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,559 Speaker 1: is just decades long issue, or at least years long issue. 30 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: To there're spending plenty of money. It's not a money thing, 31 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: it's a delivery thing. Is he right? 32 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 2: Well, certainly homelessness has been an issue for many years, 33 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 2: but at the moment it's we're in a real urgent 34 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 2: situation where it's the worst it's been for years, and 35 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 2: we really need to covergent action. Whether the resource in 36 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 2: question would be a good one that actually have an 37 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 2: opportunity to discuss with the minister. We certainly failed to 38 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 2: get to deal with a situation. Some of the hundreds 39 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 2: of millions as well as they have been taken out 40 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 2: of emergency housing support needs to be reinvested into programs 41 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 2: and wrap around services that actually do support people into sustaining. 42 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: Part of the problem. See the emergency motel thing was 43 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 1: a disaster and it was predicated. I think on the 44 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: idea that it was temporary when the problems that many 45 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: of these people have are not temporary. So, in other words, 46 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: do you either hook into these people and look after 47 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: them forever or you don't. Is that fair or not? 48 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 2: Well, it's you. Certainly people need supports. People don't need 49 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 2: support forever. There are a few people who may need 50 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 2: quite a long term support. A lot of people. If 51 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 2: you can get get people into good house, sort out 52 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:36,399 Speaker 2: some of the financial issues around support, income support, help 53 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:40,399 Speaker 2: them with health and possibly with addiction issues, with other 54 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 2: issues that might be going on, they can be fine 55 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 2: and they can move on and on with their lives. 56 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 2: The programs that work with people at the moment coming 57 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: out of street homelessness, you know they're effective, but it's more. 58 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 2: It's about more than a home it's about providing those 59 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 2: other supports around people as well. 60 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: Ok good On. Paul Barber, senior policy analyst at the 61 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: Salvation Army. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen 62 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: live to news Talks at b from six am weekdays, 63 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.