COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
Poverty and Public Housing
The inner city
of Sydney is a diverse community. Here, the rich and the
poor live alongside one other. In South Sydney LGA 17% of
housing is public housing compared to 6% across Sydney. 80%
of people in public housing are dependent on Social Security payments.
Public Housing Estate are sometimes called "quasi-hospitals"
because of the high rate of people with mental illness, HIV/AIDS,
dementia or those coming out of domestic violence. 90% of
Woolloomooloo is public housing, and in recent years very luxurious
apartments have been developed right around the fringe of the suburb,
making a very sharp contrast between rich and poor.
 The
growing division between rich and poor in the inner city
is changing the shape of the inner city. Local services are
shifting from providing for low-income earners to catering for those
with more disposable income. The rate of crime, urban poverty
and unemployment have all increased with the reduction in demand
for unskilled workers and the reduction of low-cost services in
the inner city.
The number of homeless people in the inner city of Sydney continues to grow, with 12,287 requests for housing assistance being made in 1998. As well as having nowhere to sleep at night, it is estimated that 75% of the homeless population have had some sort of mental illness. Many also have chronic physical disorders or have experienced extreme trauma in their lives. One in two women and one in ten men have reported that they have been raped.
Other indicators of poverty in the inner city include general community stress, such as domestic violence, child abuse, suicide rates and social isolation. Single parent households make up 20.8% of the households in the South Sydney LGA.
Developing community
HopeStreet
seeks to be involved with those experiencing poverty through its
Community Development Program. An Op Shop, run by volunteers from
the local community provides affordable clothing and goods. The
Fruit and Vege Co-op, also run by volunteers, provides fresh, healthy
and affordable food. The Back Shed Café is where the community
meets for cup of coffee, cake and a chat - where people can find
welcome whoever they are, the support they need and a safe space
to talk about faith. In these projects and in involving ourselves
in the local community, we aim to help people develop their own
ability to manage their lives and the life of their community.
What
they say about HopeStreet:
"HopeStreet
is like the family I never had" CL- Woolloomooloo Local
"I
wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for the caring staff"
TS-
Woolloomooloo Local
The Woolloomooloo
Community Development Program is supported by:
UBS
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