Facing Homelessness: Healing Beyond Shelter

Walking past someone sleeping rough is more than a heart-tugging sight; it is a direct reflection of our community's health and humanity. In the corridors of the Legislative Council, I shared some thoughts sparked by visiting dedicated services like the Tranby Engagement Hub and St Patrick's in Fremantle—places where real people provide real help every single day of the year.

The unexpected answer in a doorway

These centres do far more than offer basics like showers and meals. They give a fragile sense of normalcy, a glimpse of civilisation for those forced back onto the streets where survival is a daily battle. As a GP, I have met patients sleeping in cars, which is little more than a grim blessing when there is nowhere else to go. The faces of people ageing in homelessness reveal a silent despair that no hospital or mental health ward alone can fix: the stability of a home is the irreplaceable medicine they need. This is a public health emergency we're watching unfold right outside our doorsteps.

Tranby works alongside organisations like Homeless Healthcare and Orange Sky laundry, providing integrated support with minimal rules and maximum inclusion. The evidence from this frontline work is unmistakable: the rising demand for help, particularly from women and families struggling to keep their heads above water, is a clear signal that social conditions are eroding. When I saw that Tranby recorded nearly 90,000 presentations last year, with a 60% increase on previous figures and an alarming rise in women seeking support, I was confronted with the human cost of our inaction. These numbers are not just statistics—they are painful stories, urgent calls for help.

If you are reading this, you are likely someone who values evidence and practical solutions over politics. While major parties wrangle, we must advocate for a holistic approach: homelessness is a symptom of intersecting issues across health, housing, justice, and community sectors. Preventive medicine in its purest form comes from stepping up where it counts, helping people before crises escalate.

If this message resonates with you, I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel, where I explore these topics in greater depth and share ideas on how we can collectively heal our community.

From despair to dignity: a call for solidarity

Imagine the horror of passing by someone who has nothing—no home, no hope—and feeling only fear or judgment. What if instead, we see a call to solidarity? When government partners with places like Tranby and Woodfield, the results speak for themselves: people recovering from hopelessness, regaining dignity, and finding pathways back into society. Yet there is still so much to be done, so many lives hanging in the balance.

Frankly, investing in housing is not just a kindness—it is an economic imperative. The cost of refusing homes is reflected in escalating healthcare and justice expenses. In my years as a doctor, I have yet to see anyone healed by bureaucracy; people need compassion, opportunity, and most crucially, stability.

Ending homelessness requires all of us: medical professionals lending their skills, faith communities offering hospitality and leadership, citizens moving from fear to understanding. I encourage every one of us to consider how we might help ease this burden. Whether it is volunteering time or simply bearing witness with empathy, your actions contribute to change.

The work ahead

Tonight, I raise my thanks for those staff and volunteers working tirelessly at homelessness services. Their compassion translates to real, tangible change. I plan to return to Tranby and join initiatives like the CEO Sleepout to better understand and support this critical challenge.

Our duty to people experiencing homelessness is clear: we cannot afford not to act. With cooperation, compassion, and commitment, we can shift the tide. I invite you to read the full discussion in the official record and consider joining Legalise Cannabis WA to support broader reforms that promote community wellbeing at https://www.lcwaparty.org.au/join.