Northbridge homeless centre to be debated

by Kershia Wong

May 6, 2008

WITH  homelessness on the rise, Perth City Council’s planning committee was on May 6 set to debate a proposed community centre on Aberdeen Street.

“I personally would rather they be putting up shelters instead of just drop in centres,” Councillor Judy McEvoy said. “[But] anything we can do to help is a good thing; [homelessness] is getting out of control.”

The plan is to convert a restaurant and a night club into a centre for the homeless, which will be operated by Uniting Care West. If approved by the council, the centre will include an office and a ‘drop in’ centre to provide showers, light refreshments, free clothing, and access to counselling services.

The centre intends to operate between 7am and 12pm from Sundays to Thursdays, with breakfast once per week and brunch once per month.

“It’s probably an appropriate location, as long as it doesn’t interfere with businesses around the area, because we still need to help the businesses as well,” Cr McEvoy said.

Cr McEvoy also said that, as long as the centre was kept on a tight rein, it would run smoothly.

The planning committee chair said that during a visit to San Diego a few years back, she noted the excellent support provided for homeless folk.

“It was the most impressive thing I’ve seen in America,” she said.

Housed in big, long building sheds with mats laid on the floor, nobody was left out on the streets at night, Cr McEvoy recalled.