In a time when access to shelter should be met with understanding, recent events in a public park have stirred concern and frustration.

The abrupt removal of people sleeping rough has illuminated the growing pressures of housing insecurity and the problematic circumstances many across the country face.

It’s a stark example of how little warning can disrupt vulnerable lives.

The Brisbane-based charity Nourish Street, led by founder Beau Hayward, has been vocal in condemning the actions taken by the City of Moreton Bay council.

The removal of eight tents, which served as the only refuge for those without a permanent home, has been described as 'cruel and heartless' by advocates for the homeless.

The mental health toll of such abrupt evictions cannot be overstated, with those affected left to grapple with the overwhelming stress and uncertainty of their situation.

Eight tents used by rough sleepers were removed from a park in Queensland, and just an hour’s notice was given to pack them up. Credit: Freerange stock

Like many other countries, Australia is in the throes of a housing affordability crisis.

In Queensland, the situation has become so dire that more individuals and families are resorting to living in tents or their vehicles, as the cost of living continues to rise and housing remains out of reach for the most vulnerable.

The City of Moreton Bay's decision to outlaw camping on public land and the subsequent changes to the homeless persons framework, which include prohibiting pets and excluding those living in vans from being considered homeless, have only exacerbated the issue.

The potential infringement penalty of $806 for rough sleepers is a punitive measure that adds financial strain to an already marginalised group.

Brisbane's Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner's response, which issued a 24-hour notice for rough sleepers to vacate city parks, has been met with similar disapproval.

Charities and mental health advocates have criticised the lack of empathy and the failure to provide viable alternatives for those displaced by such policies.

Beau Hayward has pointed out the stark reality of the housing crisis, marked by a severe lack of affordability, leaving many with no other options but to seek shelter in public spaces.

'As local councils move forward with evictions, the situation has become even more dire, with housing services overwhelmed and facing a significant backlog of referrals,' he said.

'For many of those affected, this means facing an uncertain future with very few options available.'

'Lives are being disrupted, and the dignity and sense of belonging that come with having a home are being stripped away. It is crucial to remember that, regardless of their circumstances, these individuals are human beings deserving of basic rights, including the right to shelter.'

The dignity and sense of belonging that come with having a home are fundamental to a person's well-being.

The recent actions by the council disrupted lives and stripped away these fundamental human rights.

It is imperative to remember that individuals experiencing homelessness deserve respect and the right to shelter.

In defense of their actions, a spokesperson for the City of Moreton Bay stated that the council cannot legally issue move-on orders but can remove tents and belongings if a compliance notice is breached.

They claimed that the removed tents were abandoned and that the occupants had consented to dismantling their tents, with valuable items stored for later collection.

However, using an excavator to clear the site due to the unsanitary nature of the rubbish raises questions about the council's approach to public health and the welfare of its officers and community members.

Despite the council's assurance that all individuals at Eddie Hyland Park were offered access to specialist homelessness services and that the Department of Housing had engaged with them, Beau Hayward has expressed scepticism.

He asserts that many are still waiting for safe housing solutions and are navigating a broken system in search of stability and support.

The call for systemic change is loud and clear. Nourish Street and other advocates for the homeless are steadfast in their commitment to supporting those in need and pushing for policies that ensure everyone has a safe place to call home.

The community and decision-makers must recognise the urgency of this issue and work together to find solutions that offer genuine support and hope to those struggling.

As members of the Seniors Discount Club, we understand the importance of community and the need to stand in solidarity with the less fortunate.

We encourage our readers to engage in discussions about this issue, volunteer with local charities, and advocate for policies that address the root causes of homelessness.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our fellow Australians who need a helping hand.

Key Takeaways

• Eight tents used by rough sleepers were removed from a park in Lawnton, Queensland, with only an hour's notice for inhabitants to gather their belongings.
• The removal of the tents has sparked criticism and highlighted the mental health issues and housing affordability crisis affecting vulnerable Australians.
• The City of Moreton Bay and Brisbane's Lord Mayor are enforcing regulations against public land camping, which has been met with widespread condemnation by charities and mental health advocates.
• Nourish Street founder Beau Hayward advocates for systemic change to address homelessness and insists that, despite the council's claim, not everyone has been offered a viable housing solution.

What are your thoughts on the council's actions and the broader issue of homelessness in Australia? Share your stories and opinions in the comments below, and let's continue the conversation about how we can support our community's most vulnerable members.

 

[Teddy is my boy]

Let’s build a multimillion dollar sporting venue we don’t really need in Brisbane instead of some affordable housing for the homeless.

 

[Barry76]

How many decades has the government's neglected the issue of public housing and we arrive at we are at.

 

[Tabby]

What a **** the Brisbane Lord Mayor is. I agree ...zero empathy or compassion. And what's with the 'if you live in your car you're not considered homeless' bit?!
Too many people these days are living rough through all kinds of circumstances. I know of several professionals who had to couch surf and/or bunk down in their cars for months due to lack of available housing and people offering $$ higher rent to secure a place.
Some people ignorantly judge the homeless, when the reality is it's a complex issue.
Yes some are with mental illness and substance abuse backgrounds, but illness, loss of employment, crippling raised rents by greedy landlords, all can and do contribute to the growing demographic of homeless in our society. Compassion and understanding go a long way.
Subsequent governments need to do much more regarding affordable housing, and corporations and profiteering 'churches' need to pay taxes!

There are park dwellers near me, I live in the city. Some have tents and swags, they are permitted by the council, but monitored and must be packed up and out by the time the council workers start there in the morning. They cook breakfast at the bbq area, there's children living there with them, it's sad and they live there even in the cold and wet of winter. They don't litter, they use the public restrooms, and I'm sure given a choice would refer to be under a solid roof.
But the almost extortion rate of rents and availability of lower cost accomodations prohibits many from finding a home.
Many of us are just a change in circumstances of becoming homeless. Blessed are those secure in their homes these days.

 

[PattiB]

Let’s build a multimillion dollar sporting venue we don’t really need in Brisbane instead of some affordable housing for the homeless.

Or in Tasmania it’s ”we need to have a multimillion roofed stadium so we can have our first AFL team‘, never mind the homeless or our aging hospitals. A lot of tasmanians aren’t particularly happy about the stadium but our government knows best, apparently.

 

[Towing]

Maybe the rest rooms need to be expanded too. While I agree that rentals are too expensive and people don't have the money required for bond and rent in advance, I am appalled how much the local, state and federal Govts have hiked their various rates and taxes. A lot are based on property value. One expensive property can increase the value of the area. Try selling a property for the value shown on rates.

 

[Squizzy1]

Sorry but we can't have public parks cluttered with homeless, they can move to camping, caravan parks, and the like. The same goes for those caravans or motor homes I see parked on the foreshore by public facilities.
It may be tolerated in an emergency or till a place can be organised but not permanently.

 

[Jennie]

How many decades has the government's neglected the issue of public housing and we arrive at we are at.

We have public housing boarded up here in Wagga. The housing dept can't afford to repaint or put new carpet in. When we rented privately years ago, I can't recall new floor coverings or fresh paint between tenants.

 

[Squizzy1]

Maybe the rest rooms need to be expanded too. While I agree that rentals are too expensive and people don't have the money required for bond and rent in advance, I am appalled how much the local, state and federal Govts have hiked their various rates and taxes. A lot are based on property value. One expensive property can increase the value of the area. Try selling a property for the value shown on rates.

That hasn't been my experience, most rate notices don't reflect the true value and are usually very conservative estimates.

 

[Squizzy1]

Or in Tasmania it’s ”we need to have a multimillion roofed stadium so we can have our first AFL team‘, never mind the homeless or our aging hospitals. A lot of tasmanians aren’t particularly happy about the stadium but our government knows best, apparently.

That may well be true, but regardless of the stadium, to assume housing would follow without it is fantasy. To suppose when the MCG was built everyone in Melb. was adequately housed is just laughable, let alone the whole state.

 

[Towing]

Sorry but we can't have public parks cluttered with homeless, they can move to camping, caravan parks, and the like. The same goes for those caravans or motor homes I see parked on the foreshore by public facilities.
It may be tolerated in an emergency or till a place can be organised but not permanently.

Many caravan parks are expensive. Some country area showgrounds have camping areas that are considerably cheaper.

 

[Squizzy1]

What a **** the Brisbane Lord Mayor is. I agree ...zero empathy or compassion. And what's with the 'if you live in your car you're not considered homeless' bit?!
Too many people these days are living rough through all kinds of circumstances. I know of several professionals who had to couch surf and/or bunk down in their cars for months due to lack of available housing and people offering $$ higher rent to secure a place.
Some people ignorantly judge the homeless, when the reality is it's a complex issue.
Yes some are with mental illness and substance abuse backgrounds, but illness, loss of employment, crippling raised rents by greedy landlords, all can and do contribute to the growing demographic of homeless in our society. Compassion and understanding go a long way.
Subsequent governments need to do much more regarding affordable housing, and corporations and profiteering 'churches' need to pay taxes!

There are park dwellers near me, I live in the city. Some have tents and swags, they are permitted by the council, but monitored and must be packed up and out by the time the council workers start there in the morning. They cook breakfast at the bbq area, there's children living there with them, it's sad and they live there even in the cold and wet of winter. They don't litter, they use the public restrooms, and I'm sure given a choice would refer to be under a solid roof.
But the almost extortion rate of rents and availability of lower cost accomodations prohibits many from finding a home.
Many of us are just a change in circumstances of becoming homeless. Blessed are those secure in their homes these days.

Unfortunately, the reality is under our society, social order, or whatever, homelessness for whatever reason will always be. One only needs to look to the wealthiest nation on earth for a look into our future, it is already a fact of life the World over, no country is exempt or ever will be.

 

[Squizzy1]

Many caravan parks are expensive. Some country area showgrounds have camping areas that are considerably cheaper.

Then keep moving, unfortunately like it or not the American style trailer park life is in our horizon.

 

[Squizzy1]

How many decades has the government's neglected the issue of public housing and we arrive at we are at.

Probably around 4 decades, but that doesn't mean there were no homeless, and public housing is a state issue, perhaps it needs to be a Fed issue, but imo the American style trailer park living is all that will happen.

 

[darrellh]

And these people will just pull $800.00 odd out of their back pockets to pay these fines. Get real. How about addressing the problem and start fining landlords who raise their rents by exhorbitant amounts and kick people out for no reason and then in some small way some actual issues will be addressed. A message will be sent and real estate agents need to be put on notice as well. And public housing as mentioned above, they need to be sorted and fully maintained and imagine the reduction in numbers on the waiting list. That is something that can be addressed immediately but all state governments are dragging their feet. I don't know how they can sleep at night knowing they are causing half the problem.

 

[Reet]

Sorry but we can't have public parks cluttered with homeless, they can move to camping, caravan parks, and the like. The same goes for those caravans or motor homes I see parked on the foreshore by public facilities.
It may be tolerated in an emergency or till a place can be organised but not permanently.

I imagine the people living in public places do so because the rents in organised parks are too high. Obviously no-one lives on the sie of the road without washing or toilet facilities because they want or enjoy it!

 

[PattiB]

That may well be true, but regardless of the stadium, to assume housing would follow without it is fantasy. To suppose when the MCG was built everyone in Melb. was adequately housed is just laughable, let alone the whole state.

No the government wouldn’t use the money for anything else, but the state will be in so much debt because of it that there will be no money for anything else for a long, long time. The premier, of course keeps assuring us that the costs will not blow out and he won’t spend a cent more than the allocated amount! You really can’t compare the building of the MCG to Tassie’ stadium, Melbourne probably had a comparable population back then, to what ours is now. I don’t believe we will ever have enough housing for everyone regardless of how many are built.

 

[magpie1]

It is long overdue that the Federal Government and State Governments together began seriously addressing Australia's housing crisis. First and foremost Australia should completely stop the absurd amount of Immigrants arriving on our shores....the massive amount of Immigrants coming to Australia in recent years has done nothing but overwhelm Australia's housing situation and created a huge lack of affordable housing for its current residents. The Federal and State Governments must create more sustainable housing for our homeless and make it a priority initiative for all concerned. So much of Australia's wealth has been spent overseas to aid other Country's and their Community problems while completely neglecting our own home crisis. It is disgusting to think that our own Governments are so reluctant to solve this issue. The time for changing this approach is now, it cannot and must not be neglected any further.

 

[Jest]

THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD. THAT GOES FOR EVERYONE EVEN COUNCILS AND MAYORS.

 

[Jest]

It is long overdue that the Federal Government and State Governments together began seriously addressing Australia's housing crisis. First and foremost Australia should completely stop the absurd amount of Immigrants arriving on our shores....the massive amount of Immigrants coming to Australia in recent years has done nothing but overwhelm Australia's housing situation and created a huge lack of affordable housing for its current residents. The Federal and State Governments must create more sustainable housing for our homeless and make it a priority initiative for all concerned. So much of Australia's wealth has been spent overseas to aid other Country's and their Community problems while completely neglecting our own home crisis. It is disgusting to think that our own Governments are so reluctant to solve this issue. The time for changing this approach is now, it cannot and must not be neglected any further.

ALBO WAS GOING TO DO JUST THAT. AND GUESS WHAT NOT ONE HOUSE HAS BEEN BUILD. HE IS SUCH A LIAR. HE IS HAVING A SECOND GO WITH THIS LIE NOW.