1500 sleep on local streets

Federal MPs for Cunningham and Throsby Sharon Bird and Jennie George visited Coniston Men’s Shelter last week, to learn more about the region’s homeless.

Ms George claimed earlier this year that figures showed more than 1500 people face homelessness every night in the Illawarra.

The Coniston refuge had to send away 225 men from July 2006 to June 2007, and a further 93 men from July to November because there weren’t enough beds to accommodate them.

During the recent Federal election campaign the Labor Government announced a $150 million investment over five years to halve the number of homeless people turned away from shelters.

David Best, one of the current residents at the Coniston Men’s Shelter, knows very well how fortunate he is to have a roof over his head.

Scottish-born Mr Best came to Australia in May 2007, soon to be married to a woman he met many years ago in his long-time home of Africa.

Unfortunately the couple were evicted from the house they were privately renting and have now separated - leaving Mr Best without a home or any contacts in a country he’s only lived in for a few short months.

If he hadn’t found a spot in the men’s shelter Mr Best said he would be living rough on the streets or sitting at Sydney airport trying to “thumb a lift” back to Africa.

Coniston Men’s Shelter Manager Lee Coburn said broken relationships are one of the biggest causes of homelessness, along with mental illness.

She said there simply needs to be more money put into initiatives like men’s shelters and live-in mental health care if the problem is to be eased.

Coniston Men’s Shelter only has 12 beds, 10 for long-term residents and two for crisis accommodation.

Mr Best is still trying to find work after about eight weeks at the shelter, but wants to stay in Australia and remains optimistic about his future.

“My main priority is to get a job and earn some money and repay the kindness shown to me…or I’ll win the lotto and retire,” he said.