Nelson picks up baton on homelessness: [6 NSW Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 04 Feb 2008: 6.
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Abstract
“From our point of view, it was him coming out in a response to [Kevin Rudd]’s focus on homelessness,” Captain Moulds said.
“They all talked about their situations,” he said. “Dr [Brendan Nelson] commented that this was his roots, sitting down with a person and dealing with their problems. He was able to engage.”
An estimated 14,000 people in Australia sleep rough every night and an estimated 100,000 are homeless. The Prime Minister has vowed to make the issue a government priority and has announced a six- month inquiry and a white paper. “I don’t want to live in a country where we simply discard people,” Mr Rudd said.
Full Text
THE homeless have never had so much attention from our politicians, with both Kevin Rudd and Brendan Nelson expressing concern for their plight and visiting shelters in recent weeks.
On Friday night, the Opposition Leader spent time with Salvation Army officers in Sydney’s inner-city suburbs talking with homeless youths, transvestites and prostitutes. He found himself in intense conversation with the homeless Elliot Marshal outside the Oasis Youth Crisis Centre.
Marshal, who has had repeated contact with the Salvation Army in recent weeks, was open about his struggles with addiction.
“This young man opened up his heart to where he’s been and we discussed his dreams about where he wants to go,” said DrNelson.
“The Salvation Army and similar organisations are doing a first- rate job reaching out to the young and the homeless. All Australians should be inspired by their commitment to those on the margins of Australian society.”
Salvation Army director of youth services Paul Moulds escorted Dr Nelson around Sydney’s troubled inner-city.
“From our point of view, it was him coming out in a response to Kevin Rudd’s focus on homelessness,” Captain Moulds said.
“Rudd has announced an investigation into homelessness and Nelson genuinely wanted to get a feeling for what was happening on the streets.”
He said Dr Nelson spent several hours on the streets talking to homeless youth, older alcoholics and prostitutes.
“They all talked about their situations,” he said. “Dr Nelson commented that this was his roots, sitting down with a person and dealing with their problems. He was able to engage.”
Captain Moulds said his organisation welcomed the new interest in homelessness, which had been a low priority for many years. He said even getting money to employ a drug and alcohol worker for their youth crisis centre had been a struggle.
“We hope that politicians will appreciate some of the complexities individuals face and realise the solutions are not just about opening more beds.
“The new thinking amongst specialists working with the homeless is that early intervention is vital and addressing issues such as addiction, mental health, and lack of living and social skills must be done if people are to break out of the cycles which led them to be homeless.”
An estimated 14,000 people in Australia sleep rough every night and an estimated 100,000 are homeless. The Prime Minister has vowed to make the issue a government priority and has announced a six- month inquiry and a white paper. “I don’t want to live in a country where we simply discard people,” Mr Rudd said.
In announcing the Liberal Party’s support for Mr Rudd’s campaign, Dr Nelson said it was a paradox so many people were homeless when the country as a whole was going so well.