Don't you think that the fact that these people waited for this morning and moved straight back into the camp means they haven't got a choice? or at least a humane choice?
Its such a privileged 1st world response to "Move them on". Where exactly? The thousands of beds we provide for the homeless and vulnerable? Oh thats right, they don't exist.
There is a solution to that you know.
Let them stay.
Provide a large amount of skip bins and portable toilets and showers. Have rangers do inspections every day to keep the place safe, whatever you think you need to do to make things "official" for the pen - pushers. But let them stay.
So far today, Ive seen a lady with one leg in a wheelchair asleep in the middle of Hay street mall, and about 15 other of my regular homeless people, who I see everyday. Its before 10am.
If having a place to camp and clean up, means letting them stay at Heirisson Island, then so be it. This problem of homelessness has been swept under the carpet for too long, the City of Perth hasn't provided the services and places needed to cope with this. Let them have trees and nature and a place in this world that isn't a square of concrete to beg from.
Let them stay, because until now you haven't given a shit where they are as long as they don't make your pretty park "dirty" and you can't see them. They aren't so invisible now are they?
(Photos from sbs.com and perthnow.com)
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