With the rising cost of living, scarcity of houses and skyrocketing rent, some say Logan is in desperate need of a homeless hub.
CEO of local family services organisation YFS, CEO Cath Bartolo, said a hub wouldn’t end homeless.
“… but at least it’s a central place where people know they can go,” she said.
Ms Bartolo said last week’s controversy was a clear example why.
Last week, Logan City Council made headlines after a park ranger allegedly “secretly relocated” homeless people to Brisbane’s Musgrave Park.
A council worker was seen unloading three homeless people and their luggage from an unmarked council utility at Musgrave Park.
They were moved from Hugh Muntz Park at Beenleigh.
Reports quickly emerged claiming Logan City Council were secretly dumping their homeless residents in Brisbane.
Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner condemned the act, and so did minister for housing Leanne Enoch.
But according to Logan mayor Darren Power, there was a much more “human” story behind it.
Last week, Cr Power chatted on Brisbane radio station, 4BC, with host Neil Breen, and he defended the park ranger.
“It looks bad from the outside,” Cr Power told Mr Breen.
“But… you’ll find there’s a bit of a human story here.”
Cr Power said three people (staying in tents at Hugh Muntz Park) had told the park ranger they wanted to relocate to Musgrave Park, because one of them was starting a new job as a truck driver.
According to Cr Power, the council officer, of his own accord, offered to give the three people a lift.
Cr Power reiterated several times: the ranger was not following council procedure.
“He knows he’s in a bit of trouble” Cr Power said.
“But… I think he deserves more credit.
“He thought he was actually doing these people a favour.”
Cr Power assured Mr Breen and Cr Schrinner it was a “one-off situation” that would not happen again.
Despite Mr Breen’s best efforts, Cr Power wouldn’t describe the situation as anything other than misguided compassion.
Unfortunately, Cr Power said, Logan does not have a homeless hub.
He said council can offer services such as food and laundry, but long-term shelter options were not available.
Ms Bartolo agreed the city needed a hub, not because it would end homelessness, but because people found safety in numbers.
“For people who are homeless, it’s a merry go round of where to go and what to do,” she said.
She has seen a drastic increase in families reaching out to YFS for support in recent times.
“It has really peaked and increased in the last year,” she said.
Ms Bartolo said council was doing a great job with their homelessness support services, but they did not have the means to create a hub.
She said this was the responsibility of state and federal governments.
Ms Bartolo has several ideas to implement a strategic and cohesive homelessness plan, but wanted “all levels of government to sing from the same song sheet”.
