By Spencer Ilias

Recent data from Homelessness NSW has revealed that over 67,000 people sought help from homelessness services in the past year. This correlates with data released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare that found the number of people seeking help between July 2023 and June 2024 remained almost the same as the 68,000 from the previous year.

The primary reasons people sought out for help were housing crises, financial difficulties, and family or domestic violence. The data has also shown us that Indigenous Australians remain disproportionately affected, accounting for 33 percent of all clients in NSW compared to the national average of 29 percent.

“The overrepresentation of Aboriginal Australians in these figures is a national shame,” said Ms Rowe. “Governments must work with Aboriginal-led organisations to address this glaring inequity”.

There have been reports of a tent set up overlooking Storm Bay, opposite the entrance of the Anglican Church. Cameron Potter informs us that this tent has been sitting there for several months and he is quite concerned about the owner of the tent and where they may go to the toilet, amongst other things. 

“I am quite concerned about the ongoing impact on the amenity of the area for residents and visitors,” says Cameron. 

But this may not be the only long term resident of this area, as Cameron has also seen others continually living in the Storm Bay area. Cameron also tells us that he spoke to the council about this issue and received quite a poor and unsatisfactory response.

Cameron's call to action should inspire us to address this issue urgently and help the homeless people in the Storm Bay area.