By Tracie Aylmer

Apart from the super rich who love playing games with the rest of us due to their love of manipulation and control, every single one of us can all of a sudden become homeless. All of a sudden, a few minor events happen and – bang – we have nowhere to go.

Hostels are overcrowded. It is literally a first come, first have a bed basis. Camping sites cannot allow more than the people they are licensed for to hold their grounds. I have heard non interested people complain about why the Indigenous in Perth couldn’t use camping grounds. Obviously, there is a reason of ensuring there is no overcrowding within these areas, or otherwise the homeless would have already tried that. Some denigrating voters out there can be quite illogical, without realising that it could also happen to them, in the blink of an eye.

Local and state authorities denigrate the homeless, trying to make it as uncomfortable as possible without realising exactly how uncomfortable it already is. Government authorities have decided to wet them, or hand them move on notices, or arrest them for their homelessness. The underlying complexities are never considered – only the provocation that homelessness exists.

It appears that the statistics within Perth of homeless people have doubled in the last 5 years, jumping from 9595 people in Western Australia in 2001 to seeing homeless people everywhere, particularly in Perth city. The statistic of those that are homeless appears to have exploded, as they have nowhere else to go. Overcrowding in dwellings and caravan parks have also increased exponentially, with the figure from 2011 being 7068. It is no wonder people can’t find a place in these types of circumstances!

With around 6300 properties for rent in January 2016 in Perth alone, and vacant public housing lots waiting to be built and used, it would seem that the solution would be easy for the issue of homelessness. Most homeless people simply want a home. All one needs to do is ask a homeless person, and you will very quickly find that this is their response.

These are everyday people who have all of a sudden been found to have nowhere to go. They can’t pay fines handed to them by authorities for their homelessness, as they have no money. Circumstances have been rough on these people. There are so many underlying factors involved.

Domestic violence and mental illness are just two issues that can land a person without a home. Both are complex, and neither have there ever been suitable and appropriate policies to help those that are suffering. Government has decided, instead, to ignore both of these (and many other) issues. Around 34% of all homeless people do not have a home due to domestic violence.

Many people now know that there simply aren’t enough refuges for either major issue. Therefore, properties need to be opened up to take the particularly disadvantaged from the streets. While investors hope for their property to be filled by someone that is employed, perhaps the time has come for them to be much more realistic. For a person fleeing domestic violence, ensuring they are safe is their most optimum concern, but having a roof over their head is a very close second.

The uncertainly of not having somewhere to put one’s belongings is horrible. What people need is not the sympathy card, but rather the empathy card. The understanding that anyone can all of a sudden become homeless should give people a different perspective on the enormity of the problem.

An investor would still be able to be paid rent even if the renter is on Centrelink benefits. In fact, it could be easier, as the funds can come directly out of benefits before hitting the renter’s bank account. So they are not missing out, the government should expand subsidised rental. Relevant questions should be asked of the renter, including whether they are fleeing domestic violence. Any victim of domestic violence must receive proper support from all authorities, and not feel any suspicion when asking for support. This means that all necessary payments will be paid so they do not end up homeless, as is what is happening right now.

It should become well known that those fleeing domestic violence are actually some of the most reliable people in the community. They pay their dues, because that’s how they were brought up. Being unable to find a home to live is one of the most denigrating things that a community can do to a victim of domestic violence.

For others within the community that do end up homeless, proper care should be taken to ensure that they do not end up becoming so vulnerable. It is abominable that children are on the streets. They should be protected and cared for, yet are struggling with how to survive. It is absolutely disgusting that these children are in this situation.

The blame has already been shifted to the victim. It is time that we instead shifted the blame to the perpetrator or other causes, and find these people a home.