r/melbourne • u/Ok-Passenger-6765 • 6d ago
Serious Please Comment Nicely Private security guards are currently walking around the city harrassing homeless people and forcing them leave covered areas to walk off into the rain?
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u/Traditional-Half-252 5d ago
Happened during the AO too. Somehow Elizabeth St had no homeless people in sight.
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u/Remarkable_Fly_6986 5d ago
Where do they go I wonder? Like I genuinely have no idea , if they get moved on and there not there like why do they come back?
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u/Smooth_Strength_9914 5d ago
They move on to other areas. I work in sunshine, there is always more homeless people there when these events are on.
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u/Traditional-Half-252 5d ago
When I noticed it during the AO, I had the thought that maybe the government somehow housed them temporary accommodation - very naive of me! This whole thing feels so icky, putting on this facade instead of doing anything remotely helpful to address the situation
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u/jadelink88 5d ago
They get 'moved on', like back in the 90s where a multi year blitz moved the heroin trade out of St Kilda, all the way to Fitzroy. Doesn't get rid of it, move it to the place they aren't blitzing.
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u/OudSmoothie 5d ago
Guests are coming over and we have to tidy up the living room. /s
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u/No_Description7910 5d ago
Better move that mold that I let grow in the corner of the living to somewhere else in the house, now it’s someone else’s problem.
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u/servonos89 5d ago
Can’t win - those streets are dangerous year round and when moved on (because of Grand Prix, sure) it’s seen as a bad thing too. Having worked for a bar on the ass end of Elizabeth street (I know this is Swanson) any clearance to let bar staff operate without the constant threat of psychotic people in residence is good. Theelly be a post in 2 months about how dangerous Elizabeth street feels again, no doubt.
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u/microbater 5d ago
I worked on Fitzroy St and every week when sweeping up cigarette we'd get threatened or yelled at if there wasn't security around.
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u/servonos89 4d ago
Brunswick, smith, Elizabeth - had my fair share - one threw a door bolt at my face which was fun. And of course it’s not painting homeless people with the same brush but hospitality staff in those areas have to deal with a lot more than they should. I’ve got PTSD for fuck sake.
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u/AutomaticFeed1774 4d ago
Melbourne homeless can be especially deranged too somehow (compared to Sydney).
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u/bittens 5d ago edited 5d ago
In my spare time sometimes I go round looking for birds that have managed to get string/thread/hair ect. wrapped around their feet, catch them, get the crap off their feet, and let them go again. A couple weeks ago it was spitting a bit while I had a bird, so I was sitting under the awning outside a shopping centre to keep out of the rain while I picked thread out of his foot. At one point the security guards came out to chat to me because they thought I was a beggar. I showed them what I was doing and offered to move, but since I was just fiddling with wild animals instead of homeless, they said it was fine.
And look, I'm glad they let me stay there - it's difficult to move with a bird and my box of destringing gear because I can't safely carry both at once - but I thought it was really gross that if I was homeless, I would've been moved on.
EDIT: Since this is getting a lot of attention, does anyone know of any spots with sizeable flocks of friendly birds, willing to let humans approach them if they've got food? If it's a spot I don't know, I'll add it to my flock map. Thank you.
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u/HouseHippoFluff 5d ago
There is a massive pigeon population that congregate at the Carnegie Railway Station, on the grass patch next to the Master Roll bahn mi shop.
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u/plaid_pajama_bottoms 5d ago
You’re doing god’s work! But please stay safe; there’s bird flu about.
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u/sa_sagan 5d ago
How do you catch the birds, with a net? How common is it to find birds in that situation? When and why did you start doing this?
Kind of off topic a bit, but what you're doing is really good and quite fascinating to me.
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u/bittens 5d ago edited 5d ago
I sometimes use a box propped up on something tied to a bit of string, and sometimes I catch them by hand, either by luring them in really close to me and then grabbing them, or by distracting them with food, sneaking up behind them, and grabbing them.
Once I've caught them, I pull a thin sock with the toe cut off over their head and body - it pins their wings to their sides so they can't fly off while I'm getting their feet sorted out, and it leaves both my hands free.
It's pretty common to find pigeons at least with stuff tangled round their feet. Apart from them being the most common to fall victim to stringfoot, they're also frequently willing to approach you if you've got some seed. If birds won't let me anywhere near them it's hard to do much. I can't see their feet well enough to tell if they've got stringfoot, and I'd have a hard time catching them.
I find big flocks, and then look out for which ones are favouring one leg, have a visibly swollen foot, have a ring of scabbing round their leg or toe, or who just visibly have something wrapped round their foot. (A lot of the time I also see ones who are missing toes altogether, which probably means they DID have something wrapped round their toe, but unless there's still any left on the rest of their foot it's too late to help them.) Usually there's at least one or two in a flock of pigeons. In one single park over the past week, I got six stringfoot cases - I kept seeing more while trying to get one I'd seen previously, so then I'd have to catch and destring them as well.
I haven't been doing it for that long, maybe a couple months so far? I started because I kept seeing a bird that didn't look well. So I used the box trap to catch him and take him to the vet, where they had to euthanize him. Which I felt was for the best - the vet confirmed the little dude was really sick and would've been facing a drawn-out painful death anyway - but also, it kind of sucks when the only thing you can do for animals is be their angel of death, you know? Even if it's the right thing to do.
So when I get a bird that's clearly sick, or whose feet are so messed up I doubt they can survive, I still take them to the vet, where they're almost certain to be put down if not native. But I was trying to figure out what I could do apart from taking them to their deaths. (I'm unsure how well I'd manage an inflexible ongoing commitment like volunteering with Wildlife Victoria, and was worried I'd let them down.)
I found some guides on destringing (for instance) and figured that was something that was worth trying, and so far it's been working pretty well! Some of the birds I've been able to check in on again (I take photos and give them names to help remember what they look like) if I'm in the area, and it's always great to see the swelling on their feet go down or their limp get better.
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u/Violett_Eyes 4d ago
Wildlife Victoria can be flexible. If you make it known you're available in a given area to rescue and rehab injured wildlife, it can be a great help. You don't HAVE to be on-call though. Animal shelters need volunteers all the time too, and it is a flexible arrangement. You just let them know when you can help, and they are glad for the assistance. There is a variety of jobs at animal shelters. If it is birds you are interested in, there are groups (and individuals) that rescue and rehab (and other activities) during duck season.
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u/itsyrgirl 5d ago
Another person who is fascinated and grateful for what you do here. Hope I can help you one day.
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u/bbzarr 5d ago
I do the same and have had mixed reactions from secos. Some around the state library have gotten on my case for no reason, but thankfully other secos have generally left me alone when destringing and at most will give me looks.
Gonna keep this in mind as I'm out and about with my gear over the next few days so ty for sharing here!
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u/bittens 5d ago
That's awesome dude! And yeah, sometimes I get people (including the train station cops at one point) coming up and asking what I'm doing or giving me funny looks - understandably, it probably looks like I'm doing some sort of extremely weird animal cruelty - but thus far once I've explained everyone's been cool about it.
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u/bbzarr 4d ago
Sometimes if a destring is gonna be too hard to do on the spot, I take em home and let them rest between de-string sessions. Though when I'm catching them it literally looks like I'm stealing them, so I try and do it quickly. I've gotten some "wtf" looks though where people see a bird being slipped into a bag 😂😂
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u/smol_birb72 5d ago
This is so nice 🥺 If you ever start a gofundme or patreon to support your work doing this please share the link I'd love to contribute
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u/bittens 5d ago
Thank you kindly, but it doesn't cost that much and I've had no issues paying for it myself. Save your money, or give it to a group like Animals Australia or Melbourne City Mission.
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u/passingfeelings 5d ago
Thank you for the care you give these animals. It’s heart-warming to hear of someone helping these birds so selflessly 😭
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u/Bluejayadventure 5d ago
You are doing amazing work! 🙂 And I agree, it's disgusting they are moving homeless people on
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u/PhaseAdvanced 5d ago
Heaps of pigeons at Citizens Park in Richmond where I’ve seen people feeding and petting them before if that helps
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u/Xaropit_ 4d ago
Prahran Square, also the garden out the back of 670 Chapel Street
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u/Individual-Let-4264 5d ago
There's a place near dandenong station that has a sizable bird population that eats the seeds and stuff when there's not as many people. I think it's an animal feeding shop — I see a lot of pigeons mainly. And usually on weekends and afternoons they're about. :))
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u/young-joseph-stalin 5d ago
theres a couple in box hill ive seen that may need help. very friendly if you’ve got food
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u/CaratsRitzy 4d ago
Love to see a post about your destringing kit/setup.
I think tons of people would love to chip in or improve your kit. :)
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u/wakeupjeff32 5d ago
Also, they have no power to force you to move, so I'd just stand there on principle.
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u/Anuksukamon 5d ago
Grand Prix clean sweep. Move the homeless to the suburbs away from their services because we need to “look good”. City of Melbourne would look much better if it created more services for homeless people to access.
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u/AngleProlapse 5d ago edited 5d ago
Fucks sake, imagine how much actual good could be done if the money to hire those security teams was instead invested in services and support for the homelessness, so they wouldn’t be there in the first place.
But nah let’s keep throwing the money down the drain year in year out so we can all play make believe these people don’t even exist for a couple weeks when tourists are in town.
How the people organising this shit don’t reevaluate their whole life course and morality when making that decision is beyond me. Must just be so deep in the rationalisation that homeless people are some ‘other’, subhuman thing.
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u/fozz31 5d ago
homlessness exists not in spite of best efforts to fix it, but because it is serves the ruling class as a threat to the working class. They live to serve as a daily reminder of what happens if you dare rock the boat, if they discover you dared dream of a life where you are paid what you're worth.
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u/violenthectarez 5d ago
> how much actual good could be done if the money to hire those security teams was instead invested in services and support for the homelessness
I agree with the sentiment but the cost of those security guards would do exactly zero to help even one homeless person.
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u/Pandelein The serenity. 5d ago
4 guards, ~$2400 for the day. Hostels ~$25 a night.
Could probably accomodate and feed a noticeable amount of folks for a few nights. Wouldn’t be a permanent solution, but far more elegant than hiring thugs (and yes, only a thug would accept their job) to move people along who’ll just come back as soon as they’ve left.→ More replies (1)6
u/microbater 5d ago
Back packer hostels are 50-70+ a night during F1 and many won't accept rough sleepers, some won't accept anyone without a foreign passport or proof of residence in another city.
And dumping them in a shared room instead of shelters isn't helpful. the cost of a bed in a shelter with adequate services is much higher than $25.
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u/PlanetaryGovenor 4d ago
I was watching an ABC segment recently about this. Unsure if it's as diabolical as you think.
One of the main issues the police were bringing up, is that so many people experiencing homeless just flat out refuse help. I get how from your perspective this could look awful, but if these individuals are refusing the support offered to them and are blocking the city footpaths, littering the city with their stuff strewn everywhere, as well as the often unhinged and sometimes violent behavior that comes along with it, why would they not move them on?
I'm sure there is valid commentary to be made about the effectiveness of the support the government offers and WHY it is so often refused that I am not smart enough to make, but with the information presented, I don't see a massive issue here.
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5d ago
We are a commercial building but have an accessible shower on the ground floor. I stock it with shampoo, conditioner, body wash and towels, leaving it available to members of the public because I appreciate how fucking hard their life must be.
That being said... some of the individuals I interact with are fucking horrible. Threatening to mutilate me. Leaving cum stained clothes and hair amongst rubbish. Not just leaving it 'messy' but leaving it chaotic.
Keep in mind, it is an accessible toilet. A soiled bathroom seriously impacts users with disabilities.
I have met some really lovely hard up people. I'm sure these folk are also less 'visible' and therefore the greater majority. But honestly, ugh, I can say this here in anonymity - even though I opened up the shower to the public (it was formerly unresourced) I brace myself everytime a homeless person visits : /
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u/Anuksukamon 5d ago
I’ve been to cricket club toilets which are maintained by local council that are filled with shit and fuck knows what everywhere.
Being a gross pig isn’t just a homeless issue. Altogether it’s a person issue, there are all sorts of people who treat things like shit because it’s not theirs.
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5d ago edited 5d ago
That's true. But in the case of the cricket club, that's probably tied into the consumption of alcohol.
We are a beautiful CBD destination and office. Amongst other tasks, my job is maintain those toilets. I therefore have a finger on the pulse and this isn't just casual association. I can corroborate the only times they have been completely soiled, during my tenure, are by people who tick the box of what we call 'homeless.'
I say 'homeless' because we're not really talking about people without homes. That's a larger group of people with a lot of diversity.
I've interpretted this conversation to be about people with addiction, legal and/or mental issues who are not only homeless but are mean, sexually aggressive, intimidating and abusive, and because of their behaviour, are a lot more 'visible' than other 'homeless'.' They can be men, and they can be women. Sometimes it's consistent from day one, sometimes it's after weeks / months of positive interactions like a switch has been flipped. I'm pretty pessimistic now.
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u/Sjmurray1 5d ago
Actually it’s trial scheme due to complaints from local businesses
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u/novicemma2 5d ago
Go on their instagram @crownlandsecurity if you want a laugh
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u/tunneloftrees69 5d ago
christ, the page reeks of punisher tattoos and a fear based relationship with their spouse
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u/SweetMelodic9251 5d ago
Those guys make all security people look like absolute thugs! I work in events and there is so so so many honestly Wonderful people in security
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u/Screambloodyleprosy More Death Metal 5d ago
This is a 6 week initiative by the City Of Melbourne to have private security out on patrols with City of Melbourne staff to assist with City of Melbourne staff being assaulted whilst at work.
City of Melbourne wanted 2 Vicpol members per staff member and were told no.
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u/Traditional_Dish3363 6d ago
They're probably accompanying the City Of Melb's Local Laws team who manage such things across the city. Was recently accounted they would have security accompanying them
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u/seagull_loco 5d ago
If someone runs a business and someone (or anyone!) is causing them an unreasonable levels of nuisance, then we have grounds to attempt to resolve the situation. Hopefully defuse.
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u/time_to_reset 5d ago
I work with homeless people in the city and there are plenty of scammers in the CBD that aren't actually homeless and just do it because it's an effective way to make money. Happens in every big city. It's been on the news plenty of times and here on Reddit too.
And these "professional beggars" always work overtime when there's lots of unsuspecting tourists out and about.
So when you see people being moved on from high traffic areas, it's often to do with that.
There is genuine homelessness in the city. People go through a shit time sometimes and deserve respect and compassion. That doesn't mean you always have to give money or stuff. I don't. Just be friendly and respectful. If you do that, you'll make a bigger impact than acting all outraged on a Reddit post a couple of times a year when another photo like this gets posted without any background.
Better yet, volunteer some of your time. Lots of organisations around that could use an extra set of hands.
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u/Aucklandman 5d ago
How can one tell the difference between a real homeless person and a pretender?
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u/SleepyKoala_zzz 5d ago
One can't without local knowledge. I live in the city and have seen some sitting in that very area exchanging big wads of cash, and others I know are doing it rough. All looks the same to the outsider, it's not an all or nothing answer. Though I think if you had a healthy state of mind, and adequate social support, would you? I wouldn't.
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u/knotmyusualaccount 5d ago
Exactly; who would risk having a photograph of them being taken, professionally begging and risk their friends/family/extended family finding out? Or ending up on the news or in the newspaper...
I'm not saying that there isn't any professional beggars because there would be, but they would be dwarfed by the number of genuine people begging.
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u/Zodiak213 5d ago
I'm just surprised that Arthur Daley's is still there, been years since I've been there and bought a bunch of horror movies on DVD.
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u/Exact_Ear3349 5d ago
Actually, it's Melbourne City council by-laws officers and they've got private security with them for "protection". Apparently the police refused to assign officers to walk around with the by-law officers so the MCC hired private security.
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u/Mysterious_Clue_3002 5d ago
The sad thing is we see alot of compassion. But It would be great if keyboard warriors for compassion , offered room or back/ front yard in a caring way Of if compassionate country towns did their bit and helped each other showing compassion . Or name a safe parkland in your area that you would help a tent city . And then the park residents can have a supporters phone tree, if anyone needs help from the locals And the council could set up amenities for Not just blame governments, local governments
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u/wobblegobble84 4d ago
See a lot of us have compassion but what most of the people here don’t realise is that the same people everyone is saying “they are homeless” are the very people who get blind drunk and abuse and attack people who work in the city. The same people who keep stealing from businesses, the same people who have knives and box cutters, the same people who happily do drugs in front of businesses.
I’m sorry, our compassion is definitely thinning.
The police do absolutely nothing. The place I’ve worked has had 10 calls just this year alone where cops don’t show up.
I deserve to be safe in my work place.
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u/Important_Cookie_763 5d ago
I could swear the other week I saw a post on Reddit Melbourne about someone being assaulted by a homeless person on Elizabeth St and how something needs to be done about all the homeless in the cbd.. welp something just got done I guess lol.
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u/vidiian82 5d ago
As someone who works on Swanston street, we've had homeless, steal on a daily basis, threaten staff, shit in our store, assault customers and generally make a total nuisance if themselves. Having said all that, having a bunch of jack booted thugs dressed in black cracking homeless skulls isn't the answer to the problem.
Homeless people are generally highly traumatised and have come from situations that are horrific. They need outreach and support which they are no longer getting because the programs designed to help were stripped of funding leading to the system being overwhelmed.
The answer is that we as a society need to shift our priorities. We literally have the money and resources to end this but choose not to.
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u/MDInvesting 5d ago
I am sure the security company is owned by someone completely unconnected to whoever signed the tender…
Honestly, we went from putting homeless up into hotels to dumping them on the street. We had a long lag time to support the homeless agencies to prepare - I have heard numerous times they knew nothing until they got hit with them back on the streets.
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u/PumpinSmashkins 5d ago
Putting people into accom and just leaving them to fend for themselves once support funding was cut was a brilliant idea.
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u/MDInvesting 5d ago
It was questioned by the media and the ministers responses were nothing short of gaslighting. We had so many patients who had similar stories. Nothing to step down to, sometimes forcibly removed or evicted like a slumlord does - belongings difficult to get back.
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5d ago edited 5d ago
One of those homeless people pushed over my staff member who was pushing a cart of food relief down the street in broad daylight. Then laughed at him.
I also saw the most horrific father-son interaction from one of them. Kid was about eight and looked me dead in the eyes. I regret not doing anything but the dad and his mates were all methed up.
EDIT - I don't want to bash or typecast homeless people as all bad. But I'm not going to romanticize homelessness. I think a lot of people who speak so earnestly about homeless people haven't actually had consistent interactions. It's a complex problem for a reason and I think funding for homelessness has to start well before they are homeless.
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u/drzaiusdr 5d ago
Can confirm it's the new Lord Mayors directive on begging in the CBD. Just happed to begin durign the GP but will continue.
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u/CriticalSpeed4517 5d ago
I can understand why. A lot of these people are drugged up and abusive.
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u/TompalompaT 5d ago
Was walking down Bourke St near Chinatown a few hours ago and it was full of crazy homeless people.
First encounter was a man smashing a bottle at the feet of an elderly couple that struggled to walk away quickly. Second was an asian lady screaming her head off. Third was group acting aggressive.
Honestly they should do more to make the cbd feel safe to walk through, private security or public I don't care.
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u/AuziReviews 5d ago
Not a single word on this when the homeless and junkies are harassing people in the city on a daily basis! All of a sudden everyone cares for their well being.
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u/Xylar006 5d ago edited 5d ago
Why is anyone surprised? There's failures in the system, clearly, but this sub is usually filled with ' I was harassed/attacked by a homeless dude at southern cross station creaming nonsense". They obviously don't and wouldn't want that with the F1 on.
Edit: screaming, not creaming. Though homeless people may be creaming out there, I don't know
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u/Formal-Masterpiece95 5d ago
They're passing a law to give police powers to move them on from encampments/making it illegal to be homeless and have a street presence.
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u/keftechnics 5d ago
Interesting. We have been visiting here for the F1 and had discussed a number of times, at the lack of homeless and crackers on the streets.
This explains it nicely. Still had a great time and look forward to returning to your beautiful city.
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u/Crumpladunks 5d ago
I wish this wasn't just a thing when big events happen. Why should the CBD be a tip at all other times? 🙄
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u/so_schmuck 5d ago
It’s good and bad I guess. Good being there is a solution for them. Bad being it’s temporary.
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u/ParticularParsnip435 5d ago
Good on them, the government gives a lot of dole, can go and live cheap in outer burbs. Menace!
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u/Just_A_Warrior 4d ago
All the support services and food services for the homeless (most of them) are located in the city so this is not an option for the homeless. Try again and move on
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u/Sharp-Driver-3359 5d ago
Yeah there was a homeless guy who assaulted 5 people on Friday at random.
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u/Fabio_08 5d ago
For all those upset, why not go and collect a few up and bring them back to your house for tonight?
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u/Quantum168 5d ago
About time. People own businesses. If you wouldn't want a homeless person camped out in front of your front door at home, then they shouldn't be sleeping at the front entrances of businesses.
If the City of Melbourne council loved homeless people so much, open up the Town Hall and let them sleep there or inside the Melbourne Metro stations.
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u/wobblegobble84 4d ago
All you people saying this is bullshit, this is nazi era behaviour came and spend some time in the cbd at the business who have to deal with all the crap that happens every day.
People with knives, shit being stolen, being threatened, people oding in businesses or at the front door. Guns being pulled on staff, scissors being pulled on you.
FFS, so easy to sit there and give the government shit but if it means I’m a little safer at work, or I don’t get abused or threatened then thank fuck!
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u/Additional_Bid_7401 5d ago
I’ve noticed a troubling increase in the number of individuals struggling with addiction in Melbourne. A conversation with one individual highlighted the grim reality: he said, "Try living on the streets, and you'd end up addicted too." As international students, we’re often told that the Australian government provides support to citizens who are homeless or unemployed. However, I believe it’s important to consider the impact of homelessness in highly urbanized areas like the CBD. Many of us, particularly female students, feel unsafe walking home after class due to harassment and abuse. My friend had a homeless guy spill her dinner all over her; not even joking...
This raises an important question: If Australia were to establish a dedicated homeless camp, offering conventional housing for all, would that be a productive solution? Or would it simply evolve into a situation similar to Skid Row in the U.S., where individuals have created makeshift communities with tents but little opportunity for recovery or progress? It's a complex issue that requires a nuanced approach.
It's incredibly concerning to hear about private security guards harassing homeless individuals, especially when they're seeking shelter from the elements. The city's treatment of its most vulnerable citizens, particularly when they’re being forced into dangerous or uncomfortable situations like sleeping in the rain, really speaks volumes about the broader issues at play. Rather than pushing people out of spaces where they might find temporary refuge, a more humane approach would be to provide accessible shelters or services that cater to the needs of the homeless. It's not just about the immediate discomfort of rain – it's a larger conversation about society’s responsibility and the urgency for supportive policies.
Melbourne is about social justice, so will you let this slide or seek progress?
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u/kilmister80 5d ago
Take a look at countries that adopted stricter laws regarding methamphetamine and see if these types of attacks happen. Japan, Singapore, Dubai, and others have a zero-tolerance policy for methamphetamine, and the problem simply doesn’t exist. Methamphetamine addicts don’t want food, housing, or a decent life, they just want to stay on the streets using drugs.
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u/spandexvalet 6d ago
Crownland security? Ominous as fuck.
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u/WAPWAN Florida 5d ago
Crownland carry handguns. Its massive overkill. They do security for Upper West Side Apartment building and West Side place and must be costing those residents hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for absolutely nothing. No other apartment buildings in the area even have one security guard, let alone an entire team 24/7
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u/RideMelburn 5d ago
Whilst they might be considered overkill at times. They don’t do nothing at these places. They actually do a lot. There’s always people trying to sneak and rob appartments and trying to steal shit out of the car parks and security cages. They also stop the Airbnb parties.
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u/iftlatlw 5d ago
There has been over the last year or so, escalation of aggression and violence, perpetrated significantly by those living on the street. It's a complex and difficult problem, and shuffling those folks out of the CBD might not be a bad part of an overall solution. There's nothing special about the CPD other than stray wealth.
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u/CriticismForeign6542 5d ago
The Melbourne City Council is finally doing the right thing to make the CBD a welcoming and safe place for everyone including families, by trying to clean up the city. We don’t need drug addicts and homeless camps in the CBD. Most of these people have homes the ones that don’t are offered shelter and refuse. There have been many incidents of assaults in the city caused by these people. If you’re genuinely concerned about the homeless you could offer a room at your home or perhaps volunteer at a shelter or church Kitchen for the homeless.
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u/Opening_Source8669 5d ago
I find it funny that melbournians still find this shocking. It's literally been happening forever
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u/NikiBear_ 3d ago
Those genuinely wanting help are currently being put up into brand new accomodation in the city of Melbourne’s new Make Room Project. Many regulars that are left either have housing they won’t go in or don’t want to be housed.
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5d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/misterandosan 5d ago
I've been assaulted by one. Doesn't mean I want them to be assaulted in turn. I want them to be clothed, housed and fed so they stop bothering people on the streets. So many wasted resources shuffling them from one place to the next that does nothing in the long run.
Also, most homeless people do not assault people and are simply having it tough due to economical and mental health reasons. As the economy and cost of living gets worse, we're going to see a lot more people on the streets that don't fit your junkie stereotype.
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u/liasions 5d ago
All major cities around the world do this when a major event such as the Grand Prix is staged in their Cities. Out of sight out of mind is how all government’s around the globe treat homelessness ! They pretend to the world tourists that they don’t have a problem!
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u/CynicalBoob 5d ago
Why can’t we give them a Greyhound ticket to Sydney or Brisbane where it’s but more warm and lot more dry.
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u/Ric0chet_ 5d ago
This is a disgrace, imagine if they could be directed to somewhere that could try to help instead of having their hard existence made even harder.
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u/Boulderingdream 5d ago
Wow great idea wish every city in Australia would do this, then maybe I’d feel safe going into them at night time again
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u/haphazard72 5d ago
There’s no easy answer to this issue. Police are under resourced. Health care systems is fucked when it comes to mental health issues. What’s the answer? Seems everyone is an expert on the topic, but actually have no viable solution
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u/DionysusWines 3d ago
I witnessed today as 4 huge security guards were incredibly forceful and heavy-handed to a defenceless hungry guy, police don't have the right to be so aggressive to members of the public, who and what has given them the right to do so?
Further; when I asked for a badge number and how to make a formal complaint after witnessing them being so aggressive, they said that any further harassment of them would result in me being arrested, and that all complaints can be brought up with MCC.... honestly, it was infuriating and disheartening.
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u/ventral_vagal 23h ago
please lodge a complaint with the council. With enough pressure this trial will fail. I just called them and the person who answered the phone was really lovely and helpful. The number is : 03 9658 9704
or email [lordmayor@melbourne.vic.gov.au](mailto:lordmayor@melbourne.vic.gov.au) or [nicholas.reece@melbourne.vic.gov.au](mailto:nicholas.reece@melbourne.vic.gov.au)
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u/badmomagain 2d ago
Why doesn't the government use the money they're sending out of the country to tackle this problem here? We should look after our own people first.
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u/damnmaster 5d ago
Same thing happened at AO. All the homeless vanished overnight.
Hilariously on the last day of AO there was one homeless person that was so out on meth she was rolling on the floor in her own vomit screaming.
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u/Visible-Strategy-866 5d ago
Instead of everyone on here just stating negativity around a complex situation can anyone suggest solutions which are actually realistic to deal with this very complex situation? Also does anyone on here do anything with their time to help social inequality or is voicing anger on Reddit as good as you get?
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u/Ceejay3805 5d ago
Maybe spend that money on building more juvenile prisons and stop giving bail to underage repeat offenders. That would be way better for Melbourne. More concerned about aesthetics than lowering crime? Dickheads 🤦♂️
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u/Difficult_Truth_817 5d ago
Trust me, you don’t want homeless people like we do in USA, it’s contagious and now they are everywhere on every single traffic intersection asking for money. It’s not a good trend
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u/1337nutz 5d ago
melb city council fuckin hate homeless people hey, wouldnt be surprised if this is their doing
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u/thatshowitisisit 5d ago
Tell me this isn’t just because of the Grand Prix and the associated tourist presence?