Wollongong City Councillor Kit Docker will introduce a Notice of Motion on Monday 28 October urging council to explore support options for frontline homelessness services.
"The evidence is undeniable—governments at all levels have lost control of the escalating housing crisis. And we must tackle this issue with everything we have, or we risk it spiralling into a full-blown homelessness crisis," Cr Docker said.
Cr Docker said that communities nationwide are grappling with the harsh realities of the housing crisis, but Wollongong is being particularly hard-hit.
“A 2023 report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has captured the extent of the crisis in our city. Wollongong City experienced not only one of the sharpest increase in people accessing homelessness services in NSW but is now third overall in NSW. We cannot afford to continue down this path,” Cr Docker said.
“These services are nothing short of a lifeline. A 2024 report from Homelessness Australia highlights that domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness among women. With 45% of all women and girls accessing these services identifying domestic violence as the key cause.
"This motion aims to directly address this crisis. By bringing this issue to the council floor, we are sending a clear message to our most vulnerable communities: we hear you, and we are committed to taking action to support you."
The Notice of Motion to be voted at Monday night's council meeting will ask:
- A review be undertaken of council’s Protocol for Homeless People in Public Places with a view to investigate measures that could be undertaken by council to support local frontline homelessness services including, but not limited to, any ways council can support the processing of development applications.
- The findings of this review be delivered to councillors via a briefing by no later than 9 December 2024.