An innovative community initiative is launching in the Hunter, relying on the generosity of Novocastrians to open their homes and take homeless locals off the street.
The homeless support organisation, Southlakes Incorporated, has announced it’s seeking hosts for its Share Your Home project.
With the help of a $10,000 federal government grant, the program sees vulnerable women and teenagers without a home paired with accommodation holders for up to three months.
Former Lake Macquarie resident and founder of Southlakes Incorporated, Christine Mastello, said homelessness was becoming increasingly prevalent in the Hunter region.
“We do free haircuts at Soul Café with REACH, Ayon and James Fletcher, so we’re in Newcastle a lot, and we see homeless people here all the time,” Mastello said.
“The homeless situation is not good in Newcastle.”
As Share Your Home is a brand-new program, Mastello said it was essential residents knew how it operated, which would impact their willingness to become involved.
“We don’t want you to look after them– these people have lived on the streets, so they know how to look after themselves,” she said.
“We just want you to open your homes.”
The housing process is a simple one.
“People are directed to do a National Police Check, which we cover – once clear, they answer a few questions such as if they’re willing to share their home with an LGBTQIA+ person or someone with mental health issues,” Mastello said.
She said interested homeless people need to be verified by an agency they work with, such as a food outlet, that can prove they will be a good fit for the program.
“We’re like Airbnb in that sense … we link you, but people need to be matched with the right person.”
Mastello said the Share Your Home project had a messaging service to ensure both parties got to know each other before any commitments were made.
“We know that you don’t want a stranger moving into your house,” she said.
“We suggest you chat a little, and if that works out, you sign a short-term tenancy agreement and get some insight into your legal perimeters.”
Hosts are then sent a package to give to their guests on move-in day, including sheets, toiletries, a towel and comfort items such as socks.
Mastello said offering homeless people accommodation allowed them to rest before taking on opportunities to improve their situation and life.
“Homeless people can’t sleep soundly because they’re scared for their safety,” she said.
“Share Your Home is about letting them rest and relax, then in a few weeks we hope they will start getting their life back together.”
Southlakes Incorporated began advertising the initiative at the end of 2019, and was met with enthusiasm from residents in the Hunter and Central Coast.
“When we started notifying everyone about the initiative, we had many people sign up. It was really great,” Mastello said.
However, the launch day coincided with the first NSW COVID-19 lockdown and was delayed.
“It was such bad timing … prior to lockdown, the Share Your Home project had 100 hosts and 400 homeless people signed up.”
Among signees were people from all walks of life, who stuck their hand up to volunteer their homes.
“We were quite surprised with the number of sole parents signing up – they said they wanted to teach their children what life was like for homeless people,” she said.
“They said ‘while they had it hard, others like the homeless had it harder’ – I thought that was just beautiful.”
Mastello added that a large demographic offering their homes were ex-foster carers who were no longer in the system but still wanted to help the community.
She asked Novocastrians to envision themselves as homeless to understand their plight better.
“Could you imagine how it would feel for a homeless person living on the street to have a complete stranger open their home for you?” she asked.
“It will restore so much faith and give that person such a promising kick start.”
The most recent available data from the 2016 Census revealed that people sleeping rough in the Hunter region totalled 1,747, while the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie total was 1,208.
The Newcastle and Lake Macquarie statistics were in line with the national rate, with about one person in 200 defining themselves as homeless.
In December 2020, Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said analysis by Equity Economics found that Newcastle and Lake Macquarie regions would see a 37.4 per cent spike in homelessness by the middle of 2021.
In the Hunter region, she said homelessness was expected to climb by 39.9 per cent.
“Many homeless people have just fallen on really bad times … we have a few blind people, and we’re helping veterans and teenagers who have been physically abused at home,” Mastello said.
She urged Hunter residents to open their hearts and homes to the communities most vulnerable.
“Homeless people can be anyone,” Mastello said.
“They are the 60-year-old women who have fallen on hard times, and they are the youth off the streets who manage to get up and go to school every day.
“These people deserve a chance, and we have an opportunity to give them that chance.”
Mastello said applications were now open to participate in the program and encouraged Hunter residents to visit the Share Your Home website to find out more information.
Maia O’Connor