Homeless given 24 hours to move on from parks

Yahoo

13-03-2025

Rough sleepers living in tents in a city's parks have 24 hours to move on with police and council workers to enforce a ban in public places.
But support services say without fixing the supply and cost of long-term accommodation, many people will remain on the streets.
Brisbane City Council wants parks to be "safe for everyone" and is cracking down on homeless living in tents in green spaces to prevent violence, illegal drug use and discarded needles.
Musgrave Park and Kurilpa Point in South Brisbane have fluctuating numbers of rough sleepers taking refuge in tents, with up to 60 people living in parks.
Moreton Bay Council recently criminalised homeless camping on public land including in parks with threats of fines up to $8000.
The council cited illegal and antisocial behaviour including drug taking, assaults, use of dangerous weapons and strewn litter for the tough stand.
Brisbane City Council received "extremely concerning" reports rough sleepers from Moreton Bay would "pour" into the city as a result.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said it required an immediate response.
"Just like our northern neighbours, Brisbane residents don't want their parks and public spaces becoming dangerous no-go zones because of violent, aggressive and anti-social behaviour," he said in a statement.
The council, police and housing agencies will be on the ground over the next 24 hours to force homeless encampments out of green spaces.
It will also remove any unused tents.
Cr Schrinner said the "vast majority" of rough sleepers refused accommodation ahead of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred impacting southeast Queensland.
"As a community that cares, I don't believe we should ever accept that tents in public parks are an acceptable substitute for secure and safe accommodation," he said.
Housing Minister Sam O'Connor told parliament on Wednesday that 57 rough sleepers accepted temporary accommodation during the tropical cyclone.
Rough sleepers in Brisbane will be connected with essential support services, temporary accommodation and social housing instead of being allowed to stay in the parks.
Housing access support group Micah Projects CEO Karyn Walsh said the council's response was reasonable as people should not be living in parks but it was emblematic of the housing crisis.
She said many rough sleepers did not want to go to a boarding house or temporary accommodation but wanted to acquire their own long-term rental.
However, the vacancies were low and costs sky high.
"It's not as simple as it sounds," she told AAP.
Ms Walsh was grateful the Brisbane did not criminalise sleeping in parks or threaten fines as in Moreton Bay.
But she said this should be an opportunity to address housing issues and fund more support services for those who were seriously unwell and living on the streets to help them into long-term accommodation.