Heirisson Island: City of Perth, Shame on you

Don't you think that if a protest site of around 60 or so people turns into a make shift homeless shelter with numbers above 150, that there is underlying problem??

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)

White with 1 ?

Sitting on the steps of the Trinity Uniting Church on St Georges Tce in the City, every morning, is my mate. 

He's an older fellow, maybe 60's. He likes to sit on the church steps and read, he goes through about 1 book a day.

To be honest, I am pretty sure that he's homeless, I am assuming he is someone in need. I am not entirely sure what that need is, I don't even know his name. 
I also assume that he is lonely.
I do know that he is from the Pilbara and he thinks that our recent summer was too mild "Didn't even get bloody warm Mate!" he told me.

He got my attention one day last week, because he looked very peaceful. He doesn't have his hand out, he's not asking anyone for anything but he looked like he could do with a good meal.

My mate is not too bad off. He probably isn't even the one most in need. After recent months working in the city, I am certain there are hundreds of people in more dire need and the situation seems to be getting worse on a daily basis. But he caught my eye and because I didn't have to do the awkward "I don't have any change to give" shuffle, or the "I am currently in fear for my life, please don't scream at me" run, for some reason I was more open to giving.


I gave him my banana and asked how he liked his coffee. 

"White with one love, cheers".

It's now a nice morning ritual to bring my mate a coffee, but I have just realised it's high time I introduced myself and found out his name.

P.S He reminds of someone. Someone who once was in a situation where they had no-one and nothing and with the help of others, has a great life now. I wasn't able to help this person then, I didn't know them. So I can do this little bit now.