Hornsby Homelessness Task Force

The Hornsby Homelessness Task Force was established in 2008 in response to a series of crises in Hornsby Park involving homeless people.

At that time there were 382 homeless households in the Hornsby Local Government Area.

Unfortunately, until very recently there was very little focus on provision of appropriate accommodation for them. Services were scarce and our homeless population was a largely hidden group of disadvantaged people.

The St Vincent de Paul Society and the Salvation Army are the predominant providers of assistance to homeless people; they struggle to meet the needs of hundreds of really needy individuals and families, young and older citizens.

The Task Force comprises many groups, organisations and individuals including: Churches, local volunteers, Police, representatives from Hornsby Shire Council, charities, Mercy Foundation, Clifton Adolescent Family Services, Mission Australia, and schools.

There is a huge amount of goodwill to help those less fortunate than many others into housing or with needed services.

The Task Force, chaired by Judy Hopwood, has led a charge that forced governments at three levels to sit up, take notice and act.

We have held a count of our homeless and lobbied for funding that saw the construction of a 66-unit apartment block in College Crescent, Hornsby that has housed a percentage of homeless people.

In 2011 and 2012 our major project was financing an upgrade of the shower in Brooklyn Community and Health Centre for homeless clients.

In 2013 and again this year our project is the establishment of a Women's Shelter in the Hornsby Shire.

June 2014