They say a person's home is their castle, but did you know that more than 116,000 people across Australia are currently experiencing a form of homelessness.
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Homelessness Week runs between August 1 and 7 and aims to raise awareness of the impact of homelessness in Australia.
The theme for Homelessness Week 2021 is 'Everybody needs a home.'
According to the Homelessness Week website, "housing is more than just shelter. An adequate home is foundational to living a healthy life with safety, security, and a sense of wellbeing."
However, not everyone has access to adequate housing.
Southern Highlands regional president for St Vincent de Paul Society Peter Doris said it was unfortunate that there was no temporary accommodation in the Highlands to support people experiencing homelessness.
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"That's the biggest problem. It's an unfortunate situation," he said.
"The only available beds are through Links2Home which can be anywhere in the state.
"There isn't even sufficient rooms or houses to put on hold for someone. They are occupied immediately.
"Unfortunately it's the same story throughout NSW."
Closer to home, Mr Doris said there were some services in the Southern Highlands to help support people.
"We have the Southern Highlands Homelessness Services," he said.
"We have four or five caseworkers that work from there and they cover the Wingecarribee area. They are in close contact with Argyle Housing, and other services in the Southern Highlands such as the Salvation Army and Anglicare.
"We also have a refuge in Bowral that has beds for young people between the ages of 14 and 18 and Pathways which is for women aged 18 or over."
Both Southern Highlands Homeless Services and the refuge receive government funding to help support residents in need.
Mr Doris said the funding helped keep people in accommodation.
"If they get behind on their rent, there is some money that can go towards rent. The idea is to keep families or people in the accommodation for as long as possible," he said.
Mr Doris had also noticed an increase in people who needed help and support.
"There's been a big increase in the number of people looking for help in the Southern Highlands," he said.
"Covid is not making it any easier, I'm not saying it's to blame, but it's not making it any easier."
People can access these services via the telephone; Moss Vale 0437509449, Bowral 0482678488, Mittagong 0492447968.
Alternatively, you can visit St Vincent de Paul's website for information on Pathways, Southern Highlands Homeless Services and Bowral Youth Refuge.
Vinnies will also conduct a community sleep out in the Highlands on August 27 to help raise awareness and funds.
Mission Australia CEO James Toomey said that contrary to common belief, homelessness went beyond people who slept on the streets or in cars, with many people also couch surfing with friends and relatives.
"People who were rough sleeping only made up seven per cent of the 116,000 people who were homeless on census night five years ago," he said.
"The bigger picture is that most people and families experiencing homelessness are hidden from plain sight.
"We know from the most recent census data that the majority are living in severely crowded dwellings, couch surfing temporarily with friends or family, or living in crisis accommodation, a shelter, refuge or boarding house."
Mr Toomey said he expects the number of people experiencing homelessness in 2021 to rise.
"There are many reasons why people face homelessness - for some, it's family breakdown, domestic and family violence, job loss or financial or psychological distress, while for others it's simply the sheer lack of affordable housing.
"Many of Mission Australia's services are at capacity, with social housing waitlists ballooning. There simply aren't enough safe, secure homes to house everyone.
"Right now we know that there is a severe lack of available affordable rentals in regional, rural and remote areas.
"On the frontline, we're seeing far too many people and families being pushed into homelessness, many for the first time in their lives.
"We are still dealing with the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and in many states and territories, too many people are on the cusp of homelessness as they grapple with escalating rents, limited availability of affordable homes and the lifting of bans prohibiting evictions."
Mission Australia has several services that can assist residents in need.
- Sustaining Tenancies in Social Housing - Southern NSW
- Opportunity Pathways - Southern NSW
- Emergency Relief - Southern Highlands & Shoalhaven
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Vera Demertzis
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
