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Housing and Homelessness

Vic charities condemn homeless ban plan

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A group of crisis support agencies has warned a new by-law to ban homeless people from Melbourne’s CBD will not reduce the numbers of people sleeping rough.

At its council meeting on Tuesday night, the City of Melbourne will discuss a proposal to broaden the definition of “camping” in the CBD, giving police the power to move homeless people out of the city.

But a joint statement from six agencies including the Council to Homeless Persons and Melbourne City Mission said the proposal will only compound the “vulnerability of already vulnerable citizens” by forcing rough sleepers into hidden and unsafe places.

“This will expose them to greater risk of assault, and will make it more difficult for homeless services to locate and engage people to support them into housing,” the statement read.

They claim the real issue that needs to be addressed is that of Melbourne’s housing affordability.

“In the short-term, the most effective solution to prevent and respond to growing homelessness in our community would be the immediate spot purchase of new public housing.”

The statement comes following comments by a lawyer for homeless people who says the by-law won’t deliver the results the City of Melbourne is seeking.

Lucy Adams, principal lawyer at Justice Connect, previously told AAP the proposal would simply push homeless people out to isolated areas, or cause them to get caught up in the justice system.

Previously, it was only illegal to camp in a public place if the camper had a vehicle, tent, caravan or other temporary structure. Those requirements will be removed if the by-law is adopted.

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