Why we must treat homelessness as a urgent public health medical emergency

Walking toward Parliament, it is impossible to ignore the sight of people huddled in doorways. It is a striking contrast to the lives of plenty many of us lead. As a doctor, I look at these faces and I do not just see a social issue; I see a public health emergency in its most visceral form. When a patient tells me they are sleeping in their car, it is a heartbreaking moment where a vehicle becomes a luxury compared to the alternative. This is the reality of social erosion in our state.

The medicine of a front door

In my years as a GP, I have learned that you cannot cure a patient who lacks the basic stability of a home. We can refer people to hospitals or mental health facilities, but these are sticking plasters on a gaping wound. Stability is the only real cure. I recently visited the Tranby Engagement Hub, and what I saw was preventive medicine in its purest form. They provide the essentials: showers, meals, and a sense of normalcy. But the tragedy is that many people find that brief moment of civilisation only to return to a struggle for survival on the cold pavement.

The data tells a grim story. Tranby has seen a 60 percent rise in demand, with a staggering 95 percent increase in women seeking help. These are not just statistics; these are mothers with children who have nothing left. While the major parties often get bogged down in the fine points of policy, those of us who value evidence-based solutions know that the cost of inaction is far higher than the cost of prevention. We are voluntarily increasing the financial burden on our society by refusing to supply housing to those who need it most.

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A call for collective solidarity

The government cannot solve this alone. It requires a holistic approach across health, justice, and the community. We see the failure of the current system when people find more stability in Hakea Prison than they do in our suburbs. This makes no sense. We must move from judgement to understanding, and from fear to solidarity. It is about getting to know exactly where the shoe is pinching for our most vulnerable citizens.

Groups like Street Law, Orange Sky laundry, and Homeless Healthcare are doing the heavy lifting, but they need a society that backs them up. We need to shift our perspective. Every person sleeping rough is a patient we are failing to treat. Providing a home is not just an act of charity: it is a logical, fiscal, and medical necessity. We have the resources, and we certainly have the need. It is time we align our budget with our humanity.

To read the full record of my statement on this issue, you can view the Parliamentary Hansard here. If you believe in a more compassionate, evidence-based future for Western Australia, I invite you to join us at Legalise Cannabis WA.