Arriving families left homeless
IN GLADSTONE, the homeless don't fit the typical criteria.
Many are families who have come to the region hoping for a better future and have been caught out by the accommodation shortage and rental crisis.
With record numbers of people seeking emergency accommodation and affordable housing, homelessness is fast becoming a frightening reality in Gladstone.
Captain Jeff Bush of the Salvation Army sees homelessness on a weekly basis.
"We often have people curled up here, sleeping in the grounds," he said.
"The first question is always, where can I stay?
"Then they need somewhere to wash, somewhere to boil the jug and have a cup of tea, maybe even plug their phone in to charge."
Captain Bush said the region's housing crisis meant there were few options when it came to helping those throughout the region in need of accommodation.
"When someone presents, a sleeping roll is the only thing I have to offer," he said.
"It's an old doona sewn into canvas swag with a pillow sewn in.
"We don't have any houses, and at the moment it's the solution."
Captain Bush said that for a lot of families, the Gladstone situation was very difficult.
"If families are lucky enough to find a house, you then have to pay a bond of $1500 up front and then rent on top of that."
"If you have kids and all those associated costs, it can be very difficult," the Salvation Army captain said.
Colleen Tribe, general manager at Roseberry Community Services, said those seeking emergency accommodation often don't fit the traditional affordable housing criteria.
"I had one lady come in the other day whose husband earned 55k.
"The family's rent had doubled within a couple of weeks. On that kind of money in Gladstone, how on that money can you possibly save for a mortgage?"
Homeless in Gladstone
The accommodation shortage and rental crisis in Gladstone has meant an increase in the number of people seeking crisis accommodation
