Services and Advice for those who are Homeless in Australia

[lonelyDude]

As many know here I am living on the street (in my car now) and have done so for some time.

This is not the first time I have been on the street as I spent two years homeless and managed to travel the east coast of Australia at the same time.

I have met and hung with many homeless people over the years and the percentage of people who land on the street due to drugs is astonishing.

I would like to make this thread an advice and service list as much for my own use as those who are or may end up on the street.

Know if your sleeping rough tonight I am your friend and if I can lead you somewhere safe and help you live a better and healthier life I will.

Bless you all and know your not alone.

 

[lonelyDude]

Food services

Melbourne

https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/community-food-guide.pdf

Lighthouse cafe

Magpie Nest Café | Melbourne 614 | The Salvation Army Australia

Serving great food and coffee around the clock

www.salvationarmy.org.au

these guys are sponsored by GrillD and I believe its the first tuesday of every month and you can go down to southern cross station at around 7pm and they allow you
the pick of there menu with exception of alcohol (like anything you want truly wonderful)
If you are hungry and lonely this is a great place to go as the others are relaxed and feeling less like animals waiting for there food and more like humans being served as everyone else is.

Ballarat

Ballarat Council list of food help services with time and place of meals.

https://ballarat.vic.gov.au/help-you

Breezeway

105 Dana Street, Ballarat | Uniting Vic.Tas

At our 105 Dana Street, Ballarat location we offer emergency relief, housing and homelessness services, family services and alcohol and other drug services.

www.unitingvictas.org.au

best food ive had on the street this and last year.
roasts or spag boll or shepards pie and so on.
plus a nice take away bag as well lovely people I used there showers dure in one of the lockdowns and they were the only ones
who would let me use them.
it is for this reason that I often camp out in ballarat rather than stay in melbourne (well between class days that is with a fishing rod and my laptop)

Brisbane

https://www.digin.org.au/

VAKS Brisbane

VAKS Brisbane

www.mycommunitydiary.com.au

Sydney

Free meals

Rev. Bill Crews and his team give free meals and support to thousands of homeless, poor and disadvantaged Australians every week.

www.billcrews.org

Drug Services

Melbourne

Needle and Syringe Program

Victoria's Needle and Syringe Program provides sterile needle and syringes and injecting equipment and safe sharps disposal to people who inject drugs.

www.health.vic.gov.au

Homeless shelters and drop in centres I have been in and what I thought.

Brisbane

Pindari

https://www.mycommunitydirectory.com.au/Queensland/Brisbane/Crisis___Emergency_Services/Crisis___Emergency_Accommodation/4966/104356/Pindari_Services__Men_s___Women_s___The_Salvation_Army_

females and males are fully segregated and any kind of interaction between the two will have you kicked out.
the food is good but you will be sharing a room with god knows who.
I found the street crew quick in brissy and left asap.
the heads of the place are payed in excess of $150K a year and they think that all drugs and unmarried sex is evil and against god.
they have a night curfew and you have to be back in time to get your bed again.

139 Club

139 Club Inc. Welfare Centre Women's support service

www.qld.gov.au

these guys are a drop in centre and although they specialise in womens safety there is plenty of room for men to go there too.
the food is great the people are great I could not sing there praise enough.
they have services that will help you find housing and counciling.
they even had legal services when I was there.
there is pool table that everyone plays and there environment is one of acceptance.
if your in brisbane and need help go here.

Ozcare Men's Hostel

Ozcare Homeless Men’s Hostel

iwcndis.com.au

far better than Pindari as most vinnies operations are better than salvation army operations.
still lots of drugs but you are a lot more free to be your self without being treated like your scum.
no curfew when I was there and I had my own room.
it can take some time to get into here though.


Sydney

Matthew Talbot

Matthew Talbot Hostel NSW

The Matthew Talbot Hostel provides accommodation and specialised support to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

www.vinnies.org.au

This is the worst of the worst stay away.
I spent two nights there.
The street is covered in addicts lying on the road off there face.
Theft is just a part of life there so do not expect to keep your stuff safe.
When you first get there you will not get a room but rather a curtained section like your in a mash tent.
There is a nice area on the roof but you must ask access to it as there scared of drug use.
this place is very gang and the dealers hunt it like its crown land and there poachers with no fear.

Wayside cafe

Wayside Cafes – Sydney Homeless Connect

another awesome service with great food for a gold coin donation.
showers available and other services like counciling.
would recommend it to everyone.
they also have a book shelf that is continually replenished that you can help your self to for free.
I got the memory book from there that taught me how to count cards and use mnemonic to remember number plates or just about anything else.
(boy did that do my head in when cooking every number plate I saw I just had to remember.)

Homeless Shelters | GracesList Sydney

sydney.graceslist.org

Melbourne


Sacred Heart Mission

Sacred Heart Mission | Homelessness Services in Melbourne

Sacred Heart Mission offers support and services for people in Melbourne who are experiencing homelessness and social disadvantage. Everyone is welcome at our table.

www.sacredheartmission.org

you can say anything you want about the catholics but one thing they can do is put on a meal.
showers food counciling medical and housing services.
there on the same street as the salvos and many other services (grey street saint kilda)
They have turned to handing out food bags rather than dinning in since covid but still worth going.
always friendly and very kind.
They had a vax hub there and that is were I got all of my shots.
no waiting just straight in and with in 15 minutes your gone as no one wants to go were the poor people go.
The one time I was happy that most of the world looks down on the poor.
I hole heartily recommend this place.

Ozanam House

Ozanam House accommodation and Homelessness Resource Centre | VincentCare

An accommodation and homelessness resource centre located in North Melbourne providing a variety of health and wellbeing services.

vincentcare.org.au

I have never stayed here having heard stories about it and also having gotten my feet on the street and wanting to test my metal at the time.
I can not give accurate accounts for here but have heard the usual its full of drugs and dealers and the management let it pass.
whether that is true I can not say.

Hobart

bethlehem house

Home - Bethlehem House

www.bethlehemhouse.org.au

Mens shelter very expensive I believe its 75% of centrelink payment.
they will apply for centrelink for you and let you in if you can prove australian citizenship.
very strict when I went but the food is to die for.
no alcohol on premises or to be drank when your off the premises.
all drugs are to be handed to matron on entrance.
I had no drugs at the time I went there but did have a little canister of Pd/C which they were doing
there best to argue was a drug.


Places to get mail sent to and register a car license too

Melbourne

Salvation Army Grey Street

https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/locations/victoria/v235/st-kilda-crisis-contact-centre/

Sydney

Wayside cafe

Wayside Cafes – Sydney Homeless Connect

Brisbane

139 Club

139 Club Inc. Welfare Centre Women's support service

www.qld.gov.au

Places were you can use a power point for free

Melbourne

Melbourne Airport

Collingwood football oval (this is were you go to sleep if you first land on the street you can get a heater and plug it in near the entrances to the stands and sleep in a stand nice and warm)

Southern Cross Station (behind vending machines there is usually a spare and in the waiting room)

Flinder Street information booth there is one on the side of the booth.

All state libraries.


Websites of use to us

Squatters manual Melbourne

Melbourne

Squatters manual Sydney

Sydney

Free WIFI Victoria

Victoria's free public wi-fi network

Free public wi-fi is available outdoors in several locations in Victoria.

www.vic.gov.au

Canstar free WIFI Australia

Free Wi-Fi in Australia | City & Location Guide – Canstar Blue

If you’re running low on mobile data, find out where you can find free Wi-Fi in all major Australian cities, including Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

www.canstarblue.com.au

more to come....

 

[AbbeyLee]

I'm not homeless thank god but down here on the peninsula there are people camped on the foreshore (I think the council opened it for them this year). But that wind coming off the bay is from goddamn Antarctica it feels like

Meanwhile, half the houses here are vacant most of the year. I know one guy who's living in a tent on the other side of the peninsula, and have known guys who worked all their lives who had to sleep in their cars

Homeless camping trial under review - MPNEWS

A REVIEW is being held into the trial of allowing homeless people to stay long-term at Mornington Peninsula foreshore reserves. The shire’s community partnerships manager Chris Munro said soaring rents and property values had led to an increase in the number of peninsula residents at serious...

www.mpnews.com.au

 

[lonelyDude]

I just purchased a macpac down jacket its made it so much better.

the key to success is to treat the entire process like your an explorer.

setup with the correct clothing and sleeping equipment and in time its hard to go back to living like a normal person

but yes its crazy down here right now.

ive seen lettuce for $12.

I like to go to the foodbank and get root vegetables that do not go off if not refrigerated.

then I buy the cheapest beef I can get and make stew.

its the refrigeration that is the killer I find and having done the math and looked as hard as I could the only way to go with the fridge is an ice box as the

power needed to power a portable fridge starts to add up over time unless you are spending over $1000 on your fridge (makita would be my choice but then im a makita fan and they run for over 24 hours on 2 5ah batteries).

so I chose to find a way not to need things stored in the cold.

I was a chef before this but covid screwed all of that up and housing is just crazy at the moment.

I also found an 800 watt generator from gentrax for very cheap.

its enough to power and charge all of my devices and uses 2 litres of petrol for in between 6 to 9 hours.

this was very important with the way the price on petrol is going.

 

[lonelyDude]

A secret to free travel at least in melbourne brisbane and sydney if your homeless.

make sure your centrelink health care card says no fixed address.

just go into my.gov.au and put your address to no fixed address (you will not get rent assistance though but if your on the street well .....)

then if you get pulled up by travel cops show them your health care card and WHISPER im homeless and that you do not want the entire place to know.

they are not allowed to let the rest of the carriage know due to privacy act

If they do make a scene which has happened to me start to get upset about everyone knowing something you had no control over and ask to speak to there

manager.

why are you on the train bus or tram with out ticket ?

simple to get food and to stay warm.

they will be lucky to keep there job.

 

[n3ophy7e]

This is a wonderful thread idea, thank you SO MUCH @lonelyDude ❤

 

[lonelyDude]

Times are a changing my dear and although I lived a hard life many have not.

many are finding them selves lost as they dont know the ways of the street.

I dont think its going to get better soon so as I have taken many under my wing when I was on the street in the past I would like to do the same here.

 

[Mr. Krinkle]

lonelyDude is cool

 

[lonelyDude]

It seems lighthouse in melbourne is up and down at the moment.

This is the second time ive gone to find them closed.

There shut till august by the looks of it.

The first tuesday at grillD seems to still be running.

6pm till 8pm

As I get food from these places I shall take pictures and post them

 

[lonelyDude]

So you have landed on the street and its your first night what do you do ?

First thing is to find some kind of shelter and sleeping equipment.
most of the drop in centres will give out a silver lined sleeping bag or swag and trust me (I have used these too) they could save your life.
the risk of hypothermia at night when on the street is a very real risk and needs to be address first and foremost.
do not camp in the city unless you have no choice you want a small tent and sleeping bag and sleeping mat but the silver lined swag will keep you alive till you can afford these.

next you need food.
find somewhere on the list that is close to you and eat and I mean eat as much as you can as you will have problems sleeping to begin with.
this fact without food can lead to hypothermia very very quickly.

once you have these two basics down the next thing to do is find a storage locker.
this will be the point when things get easier.
you see drunks on the street with there shopping carts dont be one of them.
its not how us real streeties do it we all get lockers (though a lot still sleep in the city next to were they score but I really do not recommend this)
with a locker you are now safe from thieves which trust me there are many on the street.


so you have somewhere to sleep some where to store your stuff and something to shelter you and keep you warm whats next.
find a service see one of the drop in centres and talk to a counciler.
make sure you ask them who to talk to in the shelter as there are some real hard mother fuckers on the street and if your a newbee you dont want to get involved with them.
make appointments to come back as the counciler will help you progress from homeless to housed again.

as my name states the number one killer on the street is lonelyness.
it can be hard to keep clean (though not impossible) and the world will at least feel like its looking down on you.
this can lead to isolation and depression which can fuel serious drug addiction that was not even possible before.
you must stop this before it even happens and trust me none of us are immune (even if some people think they dont get lonely)
the councilers advice on who to talk to is very important as you need to keep talking to people.
over time I have found that most people do not even know your on the street if you keep your self clean and even if they
do only a small percentage will look down on you.


now its not all doom and gloom.

if you get warm and fed you will find you have a lot of time on your hands and this time can be used doing all sorts of things.
I like to fish read watch movies and shows off my plex server program play classical guitar draw or play computer games.
If you keep your mind and hands occupied in time you will come to enjoy the freedom and then my friends you will be one of us
and not a victim of circumstance.

 

[lonelyDude]

Sacred Heart are now doing dine in meals on weekdays and in a couple of weeks weekends as well.

the showers will be available in 2 weeks as well.

here is a shot of the menu for today and one of the dishes at sacred heart.

meal tasted very good and as always the people were wonderful.

 

[lonelyDude]

Posted at the window of the twilight cafe in Burke street Melbourne

 

[lonelyDude]

grillD






great meal sat with a couple of guys before the meal and had a nice chat.

one of them a hardened streetie of over 30 years on the sidewalk told me that dure in covid as he did not wish to leave the street
(a lot of people think people on the street want to stay there and do not understand why they cant live inside. simple they get claustrophobia bad and anxiety as most housed people do in reverse when they sleep on the street)
the courts locked him up in prison for 7 months.

didnt hear any of that on the news.

fucking disgusting he was hurting no one.

anyway food was great another one I recommend.

 

[Shady's Fox]

I think Aussie has some more than needed house boats, where da fuq do yall throw the shit mane

 

[Shady's Fox]

I ask cuz i never spike up a convo with someone who lives like this and 2 being like a green lime nosene, how come no interviews mention this small useless detail. It does come

 

[lonelyDude]

shady be careful in this thread.

it is an information thread for people in need and some of them are rather sensitive we need to be a little sensitive our selves.

now for throwing shit I think you mean toilets yes.

there are lots of them available to the public here so that is far from a problem.

were you put your belongings well I recommend a locker though you do get the odd drunk here and there that loves his shopping trolley to much to give it up

a lot also use large duffel bags and just carry them with them or have a stash spot.

its always been the sleeping and showers that are the killer for most.

if you are getting older and you get sick on the street your dead and the cold of the night and not being clean can contribute to the risk.

but by all means ask away I am happy to answer what I can but lets remember people will come back here when they need to find information

and as this forum is indexed every few minutes (yep tested) what we say when someone looks up homeless and food for australia will come straight up in google and so on.

this thread has enough keywords in it that it is no longer just a bluelight thread

 

[Soulscreame]

shady be careful in this thread.

it is an information thread for people in need and some of them are rather sensitive we need to be a little sensitive our selves.

now for throwing shit I think you mean toilets yes.

there are lots of them available to the public here so that is far from a problem.

were you put your belongings well I recommend a locker though you do get the odd drunk here and there that loves his shopping trolley to much to give it up

a lot also use large duffel bags and just carry them with them or have a stash spot.

its always been the sleeping and showers that are the killer for most.

if you are getting older and you get sick on the street your dead and the cold of the night and not being clean can contribute to the risk.

but by all means ask away I am happy to answer what I can but lets remember people will come back here when they need to find information

and as this forum is indexed every few minutes (yep tested) what we say when someone looks up homeless and food for australia will come straight up in google and so on.

this thread has enough keywords in it that it is no longer just a bluelight thread

Mate, i just want to say thank you for all your info.
Im not homeless but ive been close and i truly appreciate what your doing. I really do. Most would not bother.
May i ask why your still homeless? Is it an mental illness thing? I have mental issues myself so i kinda get it.
Have you tried housing commission? Its what im in.
I know the waiting list is ridiculously long but its still possible if you can hold on long enough.

Anyway i wish i can help people like you.
I let one homeless guy ive met live in my house for a few weeks but he was very inconsiderate and lazy so i had to get rid if him. Kept making messes without cleaning up and stealing shit.

Im not saying all are like that but some are. I am always willing to help to those that will actually help themselves.

 

[lonelyDude]

one of the reasons is I was living in share housing with a lot of international people.

there standards of living were so bad I could not handle it at the time so stayed locked in my room (I was the cleaner fixer and still had problems)

one of the guys there was trying to make me angry (bad alcoholic) and then when he got me to finally raise my voice he would wack out his camera to film me.

that I could deal with but then.

another guy decided to bring a 15 year old girl in and fuck her on ice for 4 days.

I had no idea as I was keeping to my self till CPS and the COPS turned up 4 times.

I did not wish to get in trouble but I wanted this young mans blood.

dont fuck kids near me.

the cops had me leave for my own good.

then I started to get really good scores while on the street.

I have lived in a lot of share accommodation and at the time thought it best I not take the risk so stayed homeless with the thought of finding housing in the term brake.

now housing is fucked and I am still scared of what living in share accommodation will do to my scores.

I have looked at many houses to find that due to my teeth many just look at me and think junky (a prejudice that many here know)

I dont take drugs I smoke some pot now and then (well once a year or so I might trip)

my teeth were the result of an assault and I do not have the $20,000 to fix them at the moment.



so I am suck in a loop.

grades are good enough and yet again I have done three peoples work so I can keep my grades and they get a free lunch.

I am thinking of taking on a scholarship from UTAS as they offer full housing to students getting much lower marks than I am.

if I could find a room for $150 or under near my school and not be living with dirty immoral or crazy screw jobs I would take it

but the risk is to great plus every place I go to has a list of 40 candidates and my teeth always make me last.

which is crazy as I am very skilled with power tools and hand tools and a qualified chef.

I can redo all the cabinets and square a bench no problems and know the legislation on hygiene.

try telling that to a viet in footscray that has 5 houses and only wants indian females as that is what they believe to be the easiest to milk.

nope ill stay on my own I think till I get this sorted another way.


you see the stereo types flying here too and no one notices.

I want to learn the death meditation set so I must want to kill my self (from someone who does not know what wing chun is)

I am still on the street do I have mental issues.

I have bad teeth I must be scum.

you all answer your own questions you just dont realise it.

 

[AbbeyLee]

one of the reasons is I was living in share housing with a lot of international people.

there standards of living were so bad I could not handle it at the time so stayed locked in my room (I was the cleaner fixer and still had problems)

one of the guys there was trying to make me angry (bad alcoholic) and then when he got me to finally raise my voice he would wack out his camera to film me.

that I could deal with but then.

another guy decided to bring a 15 year old girl in and fuck her on ice for 4 days.

I had no idea as I was keeping to my self till CPS and the COPS turned up 4 times.

I did not wish to get in trouble but I wanted this young mans blood.

dont fuck kids near me.

the cops had me leave for my own good.

then I started to get really good scores while on the street.

I have lived in a lot of share accommodation and at the time thought it best I not take the risk so stayed homeless with the thought of finding housing in the term brake.

now housing is fucked and I am still scared of what living in share accommodation will do to my scores.

I have looked at many houses to find that due to my teeth many just look at me and think junky (a prejudice that many here know)

I dont take drugs I smoke some pot now and then (well once a year or so I might trip)

my teeth were the result of an assault and I do not have the $20,000 to fix them at the moment.



so I am suck in a loop.

grades are good enough and yet again I have done three peoples work so I can keep my grades and they get a free lunch.

I am thinking of taking on a scholarship from UTAS as they offer full housing to students getting much lower marks than I am.

if I could find a room for $150 or under near my school and not be living with dirty immoral or crazy screw jobs I would take it

but the risk is to great plus every place I go to has a list of 40 candidates and my teeth always make me last.

which is crazy as I am very skilled with power tools and hand tools and a qualified chef.

I can redo all the cabinets and square a bench no problems and know the legislation on hygiene.

try telling that to a viet in footscray that has 5 houses and only wants indian females as that is what they believe to be the easiest to milk.

nope ill stay on my own I think till I get this sorted another way.


you see the stereo types flying here too and no one notices.

I want to learn the death meditation set so I must want to kill my self (from someone who does not know what wing chun is)

I am still on the street do I have mental issues.

I have bad teeth I must be scum.

you all answer your own questions you just dont realise it.

You're in your car right? Where abouts?

 

[lonelyDude]

Melbourne

found a nice place not far from school out on the western freeway that has low traffic and some cows (I love animals they seem to be a lot more accepting)

I am allowed to use a businesses power to some extent near my camp site though I try not to be there in business hours so as

not to upset there normal flow of trade and only really run up 1 or 2 KWh (30 too 60c) on a really cold night otherwise I am mostly carbon neutral with the exception of fuel

for getting to school and back to camp.

when im on a boat I can live with a 20 watt solar panel.

this time through having to keep studying has taught me a great deal on living with a small carbon foot print my biggest problem being the car.

I am able to easily keep under the 2050 target so long as I dont have to drive all the time (no fridge no tv no washing machine no hot water not easy in a house)

the car though will blow it out by a factor of 3 or 4 times the target and I drive a little 4 cylinder.

as we get closer to the point of no return with climate change and the governments start getting scared I wonder what is going to happen to us when they take

petroleum away.

its not possible in any way that I can see for us to continue using petroleum and not kill our selves.

just with the car I can not keep under the target and we run coal fired power stations in Victoria plus we sell so much to China.

The money to change these over is massive then add that to no petrol for consumers which will happen before shipping I think as food supply will fail if

industry and logistics stop.

nope things will not get easier on this planet.


a note:

there is no way I can accept or get help with housing on this forum.

I am known here for having a set of skills and to be honest I know none in real life.

my reasons for being alone stay the same