Wagga Wagga homeless told to leave camp or face enforcement action

Rachael Vorhauer says she will only move from her caravan at Wilks Park if she is forced to by police. (ABC Riverina: Rachel Holdsworth) Homeless people camping at a park in Wagga Wagga have been told to leave by the city council, as part of a NSW government plan to address the homelessness crisis in the city. Homelessness services are in talks with people at the camp, trying to provide them with accommodation. People living at the park have less than two weeks to find alternative accommodation. Link copiedShareShare articleHomeless people at a park in Wagga Wagga have been given less than two weeks to leave as part of a NSW government-led plan to address the city's homelessness crisis. It comes almost two months after the death of an infant at an encampment along Wagga's riverbank that sparked a push from the community to address the crisis. JJ, who has asked to remain anonymous, has lived at the park for just over a year and is at a loss for what to do next. JJ says she is unaware if she is on a waiting list for accommodation. (ABC Riverina: Rachel Holdsworth) The 66-year-old said because English was her second language, finding a job had been difficult. "I can't read English. I just need time to save a little bit, 500 bucks a fortnight to get out and give peace for everybody," she said. JJ said she hoped to find somewhere else to go before she was forced to leave. About 50 residents at the Wilks Park campsite, located north of the CBD, were today issued with letters asking them to leave or face enforcement action. The letters were handed to residents in person or stuck to tents and doors of campervans, if they were not home. The letter said: "All items, including equipment, motor vehicles, trailers and caravans are to be vacated by July 7th. "Failure to comply with the actions within the specified time frames may result in compliance and enforcement action." The camping site has a maximum 72-hour stay within four weeks. Homeless people in Wagga Wagga are being told to move on. (Supplied) A statement issued by the council said the compliance action request was a result of the Homelessness Encampments Wagga Wagga Emergency Response Plan led by Homes NSW, at the direction of the NSW premier and NSW housing minister. "Council has delayed the enforcement of the conditions of stay at Wilks Park, as well as at a number of sites on Crown land and council-managed land across Wagga Wagga," the statement read. "Council has obtained legal advice to ensure that the appropriate legal path is taken and that no-one's rights are compromised." The council said it was confident that homeless residents of the park were being provided with accommodation options and were being supported by Homes NSW and Vinnies. It said further notices for other parts of Wagga would be issued in coming weeks. Wagga City Council says further notices will handed out in the city. (ABC Riverina: Rachel Holdsworth) For Rachael Vorhauer, who has lived at the park for more than three years after she was evicted from her home in Wagga, leaving is not that simple. "I'm on priority [for housing] in Sydney ... so if any housing was to be entertained for a destination for me that is viable ... it would be housing in Sydney," she said. Ms Vorhauer said she would stay at the park for as long as she could while she continued to wait for a home in Sydney. "I would be forced to leave this entire area if the police or the council come in here to force the compliance order they have served on me." Rachael Vorhauer has been homeless for nine years, with three of those at Wilks Park. (ABC Riverina: Jess Scully) NSW Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson visited the city in May, and said efforts would be made to support people to move voluntarily, but people would need to "go with police" if they continued to refuse support. In statement, Homes NSW said it was "aware of the notices given to people in the Wills Park and river encampments by Wagga Wagga City Council". "Our staff has engaged with all the people staying in those areas and we are continuing to conduct regular Assertive Outreach ensuring individuals are proactively engaged with and offered opportunities to connect with support services and crisis accommodation," it said. "So far, Homes NSW has assisted 14 people into temporary or longer-term accommodation." The housing minister has been contacted for comment. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)PromotionTop Stories'Feels like we've been scammed': Graduates unhappy with uni degreesTopic:Universities

Wagga Wagga homeless told to leave camp or face enforcement action

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