Melbourne wakes up to homelessness crisis

The Australian State of Victoria has announced a $9.8 million package to stop people from sleeping on the streets of Melbourne.
Many are living rough around the grounds of the Australian Open tennis, and local media is calling the sight an embarrassment for the city.
Al Jazeera’s Andrew Thomas reports from Sydney.
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[@Bondisaurus]

Cost of living in Sydney is ridiculous! You can't blame the homeless. The struggle is REAL!

[@misssassydudds]

it certainly is! It was like they were pointing a finger at the homeless and looking down their noses saying that these poor, unfortunate people are such an inconvenience to look at! Shame on them for even doing this story and kudos to the police officer that said, “it’s not an offence to be homeless“!

[@foxtailedcritter]

You spend millions on a ball game and then shame the homeless who can't even afford a bed or to eat. Yeah that's Australia for ya.

[@SamanthaJones-nq2rv]

Homelessness is everywhere in Australia 🇦🇺 It's all over the world 🌏 ... God blessed 🙏 them all 💖

[@roblin6659]

Not in china

[@shauncameron8390]

Not in North Korea. Or Cuba. Or most 3rd-world countries as the poor just simply live in makeshift shacks and shantytowns.

[@barrybeck6809]

And yet they spend millions of dollars on fireworks but can’t home the homeless people we don’t want to see fireworks

[@gordonfreeman2056]

Politicians have no right to tell people where to go or sleep. They need to do what they are paid for and no where in any if their job description does it say they can make morally wrong anti constitutional laws.

[@brucebaker3523]

Gordon; why don't you offer up your home???

[@dannipuckeridge6847]

The cost of living anywhere in australia is ridiculous its so sad that there r so many homeless people

[@EnchantedSmellyWolf]

Around the world is in the same situation. Nothing but pain that lingers in all of us.

[@barrybeck6809]

And yet they spend millions of dollars on fireworks but can’t afford to home the homeless people

[@deluxewaterless7229]

It's the same in the UK and every country. Cost of living is extortionate including rent, mortgage, travel and electric. Governments need to for example set laws on basically how much rent a landlord can charge for a room or flat, and the cost of food in supermarkets

[@mahsaamini5334]

Shame on government .

[@rimu8288]

The poverty increases because they don’t give positions to work I’m looking for a year now For work ..I’m becoming homeless too

[@BronsonTheCat]

The fall in spending on Mental Health & Social Housing has contributed to this problem. Some people cannot handle having four walls around them and the responsibility associated of living in accommodation so end up on the streets. It's a vicious cycle.

[@alitanicholas9579]

Yeah. But listen to the media and anti-progression governments braying if you try to put them in anything less than a full-sized house or apartment. "It's a safety issue," they say. Nothing is more dangerous than living on the streets!

[@derar123]

Australia relied on china success, spending too much on infrastructure near mining communities instead of supporting farming and tech industries and Canada is doing the same mistake

[@Bozewani]

this is national shame a rich country like Australia should not have homelessness Australia has plenty of money to house all 22 million people

[@rockyranger9362]

Australia is not like America which is economic capital of the world , wake up to reality the poverty index of Australia is higher than compared to America Canada or even Mexico,I agree Mexico might not be economically big compared to per capita or in terms of household wealth but it still has poverty index less compared to Australia

[@bruce4130]

the years 1970 to 1998 it was rare to see homeless people living on the streets of Melbourne CBD! Now it’s becoming like USA, it’s worse than ever!

[@chris777-o8g]

Its sad , an Aussie friend keep saying that Australia is a lucky country, why don’t they help the poor ???

[@megacide84]

but ...but Australia has the highest minimum wage out there...it should be smiles and rainbows and ponys and unicorns and everybody holding hands and singing kumbaya!!!!

[@Bozewani]

but the COLA is high

[@megacide84]

Higher wages...Higher prices for all...Cycle of inflation is brutal.

[@Jays_dead_cat]

Its the cost that is the problem today. To see a movie its $22AUS.

[@coopsnz1]

Very high Consumption taxes , in Japan a 500 ml coke is $1.50 @@megacide84

[@laionemeihetahikoulakanate9515]

lol

[@lifesoframadhangaming7364]

i am lucky that i am not live in Australia

[@darkscorpion5637]

There’s homeless in every country not just Australia

[@stumac869]

It's the same in most Western economies and down to central banks and their ZIRP policies which pushes up asset prices (housing/rents) transfering wealth from the middle/working vlass to the elite/rich who own most of those assets.

[@MLe509]

Most of these people have serious mental health issues. Melbourne is becoming too expensive to live in and the average rent is at least $1200 per month.

[@wef133]

A few are experiencing the Australian Aboriginal woes. I am surprised.

[@wolfpackbushcraftaustralia]

we are a family of 7 about to become homeless

[@4chukwuebuka]

wolf pack Australia wow for real?

[@jilllangman9343]

How does that happen? Is it illness or divorce ? What triggers such a catastrophe?

[@wolfpackbushcraftaustralia]

@@jilllangman9343 no still with wife can't afford to rent I'm a truck driver I've come to the conclusion the world is fuckt now living on the road in a caravan

[@wolfpackbushcraftaustralia]

@@4chukwuebuka yes living on the road were ever I can park up the caravan

[@wolfpackbushcraftaustralia]

@@jilllangman9343 neither

[@jinchuriki7022]

Very sad

[@toninoitaliano869]

Aussie homeless need to thank Arabs for donating half of their annual gov benifits for street sweeping around town

[@ahsanurr4219]

Homeless in San Francisco is worse than Melbourne

[@SaraEbe-kc9ke]

Fenomena homeless terjadi di setiap negara sungguh kasihan siapa sih yang mau jadi homeless hidup tanpa tujuan

[@dingdongchingchong8659]

Notice how the omeless ppl are white?

[@wtfisthis7795]

Nope didnt notice. Just saw people my dude

[@laionemeihetahikoulakanate9515]

😅😆😊😁😂

[@carerforever2118]

No much black people in Melbourne, Australia anyway. Mostly white people.

[@historyhongkong7521]

Even the richest country have the poorest and the unfortunate, may everyone also help me please?

[@fauziahusman6607]

Low the rent and keep it stable.

[@a7128]

junkies and single mums

[@shauncameron8390]

And divorced fathers who got bankrupted by family court.

[@gracerawson2393]

Maybe it's time to check out the new 10,000 Elon Musk TESLA House from Texas.

[@KlausBahnhof]

Musk is a liar and a narcissist and a fraud. And he's a douchebag.

[@Bow-j6c]

Anthony Albanese vision for Australia 🇦🇺

[@JerryA676]

It should be an offence For landlords to evict

[@luciamudgway6444]

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE VAGRANT LAWS? N NO ONE TODAY WOULD BE HOMELESS IF THEY KNEW THEY WOULD BE LOCKED IN PRISON FOR VAGRANT LAWS

[@blindfreddy3418]

Lucia Mudgway theyed probably be happy about it at least in prison theyll be housed and fed

[@KlausBahnhof]

Homelessness is not a choice lady.

[@JerryA676]

Jail the thieving landlords and real estate agents

[@barrybeck6809]

They spend millions and millions of dollars on fireworks but can’t home homeless people what a joke what a joke

[@horsecodenumbers]

Im thinking of joining the homeless so i can help them with my code numbers in sports

[@supercruiser4925]

if you're homeless how can you afford protein bro? lol 0:45

[@xarigow555adam4]

Most people have no hart if they have money, particularly if they r not religious ( spending money on games watching playing tennis night lives party on beaches casino's ) next homeless people who have no food to eat even except waiting with hope someone nice give charity.

[@shauncameron8390]

Isn't this the God and religion-free secular humanist Atheist society you asked for?

[@barrybeck6809]

Stop spending money on fireworks we don’t need it

[@الأزديالعماني-ن3ي]

00:46 homeless guy with six packs lol

[@Sandysitsattheseashore]

If they get any income from their government, put them on a plane and fly them to the Philippines, it's cheaper. In America, Texas buses thousands of people crossing the border into Texas. and then they're transported to different parts of big cities, like NY or Chicago. Maybe recruit the homeless for the crews of the new multi-billion dollar submarines.. guess the war on drugs was just a good thought. . ...

[@raymond19870510]

Free market, capitalism, winner take all.

[@pSL-oy5gl]

Socialism even worse.

[@coopsnz1]

Australia a social democracy , highest household debt in the world because of high redtape snd high taxation

[@siqueira797]

Here in Brazil the state spends 5 million dollars a year on fish, pizza. I wanted free markets and capitalism here in Brazil.

[@KlausBahnhof]

@@pSL-oy5gl Capitalism is a cancer. It will kill us all in the end.

[@shauncameron8390]

@@coopsnz1 Exactly.

[@way2kool100]

Keep bringing immigrants, don't worry about the homeless

[@msZarajerusalem4166]

Why they not find job?

[@mahsaamini5334]

Job???? Shut up

[@clonecommanderbly7408]

Because there is none lol all the immigrants have jobs

[@alitanicholas9579]

When you apply for a job, they ask you to fill out a tax form. On it you need to put your address. If you say, "I have no address," they say, "Sorry. We can't employ you without a fixed address."

[@KlausBahnhof]

Finding work here is hard enough even if you have a home.

[@escamon4211]

I don't see the big deal, being homeless is not as bad as everyone thinks. I was homeless for a week.

[@aquamina766]

I heard that life in Australia is quite expensive. But one simply does not "wake up to homelessness crisis."

[@DigitalYojimbo]

Aqua Mina I believe the title of the video was referring to the people of Melbourne who aren't homeless are becoming more aware of the homeless issue, in addition to a play on words of the actual homeless people waking up in Melbourne.

[@aquamina766]

Makes sense, Thanks!

[@CutePuppy520]

Aqua Mina yes. Australia is expensive, I was studying in Australia 13 years ago as an international student and there was no such thing as rampant homelessness back then, u see one or two beggars on the streets once in a while, that's all... sad to see Australia is heading towards the direction of becoming like US where millions of ppl r homeless... this video really shows that the gap between the wealthy n poor is getting larger in just 1 decade..

[@Bozewani]

negative gearing gone amok

[@reallycool1183]

Aqua Mina I live in Australia myself, and yes it can be quite expensive

[@TheCarin12]

In Sydney I pay more than a $1000 in rent per week. I can understand how people cannot afford that.

[@dingdongchingchong8659]

TheCarin12 take them in bro 😂. Don't be another Donald trump. 😂😂😂

[@roryteal5940]

@basant vimal sharma no you wont. some people do not aquire those habits untill they are out there for a while and the boredom and no where to go gets to you. Also if you have no credit or housing history it becomes even bleaker.

[@TheCarin12]

I don't live 2 hours drive from work mate.

[@dahdanieldudehq7970]

They told me Sydney is the second most expensive city in the world lol

[@teza5876]

@Pedro Sepulveda haha don't be silly his $1,000 will pay for a studio

[@danniaddams5502]

You're right, it is a shame for the fans to have to see the homeless. The government should be doing something so that the homeless have homes and jobs that can keep up with the cost of living so that they don't have to be on the streets for the whole world to see. My gosh, they make it sounds like the people on the streets purposely want to be an eyesore.

[@denzelheden4256]

wait a minute.....I am an African willing to immigrate to Australia because it is developed and provide better life for it's citizens,,,...now homeless?...are you kidding me?...Australia is a such rich country and there people living in the streets?.......

[@enynil4808]

Denzel Heden , Australia is slowly becoming a third world country.

[@4chukwuebuka]

Denzel Heden lol

[@jilllangman9343]

Denzel, if you have qualifications that will enable you to get a job in Australia, you will not have to worry abut becoming homeless. There are strict criteria for eligibility to migrate anyway. You will have to prove that you will not be homeless and a burden on our social services. As long as governments do not put people first there will be homelessness, no matter what country you’re in. Try not to have expectations. Read and be sure of where you are planning to go. The information is readily available. Good luck.

[@denzelheden4256]

@@jilllangman9343 thanks dude....this is the kind of answer for someone who is willing to migrate .....regards

[@denzelheden4256]

@shane marz you made my day...your comment made me laugh....you are wright....Australia is in Recession, the treasury confirmed that on Tuesday,..the fire, the Covid_19...you guys really got hit hard...anyways I will try to emigrate to another Country....but In Africa I will not go...all the best

[@chrisgold4230]

4 billion a year for africa while australia becomes a third world nation look after your own

[@jemma_19988]

Australia has made two major mistakes in recent times. One - allowing predominately Chinese investors to buy into the nation's housing stock instead of investing into local businesses. This demand has over inflated house prices and subsequently driven up rents. Two - allowing far two many low skilled/low wage migrants from developing nations particularly from the sub continent. This has created a large pool of cheap labor prepared to work for less than local workers leading to wage stagnation. Both rich and poor migrants have arrived in great numbers in recent times but have overall had a negative effect on the Australian people's livelihoods and standard of living Wake up Australia ! ! !

[@clonecommanderbly7408]

It's true look at how all the homeless people are Australian while these Chinese live in their 2 million dollar houses and own all the businesses

[@ivystephen]

Time to wake up. From Singapore

[@alitanicholas9579]

@@clonecommanderbly7408 Yeah, but now we have the opposite problem. The rich Chinese in their 2 million dollar houses are having kids who grow up to become spoiled and don't want to work for pennies. And around and around it goes...

[@bingbong-yn6yg]

rich migrants come and take jobs because australian workers are not qualified to work them. poor migrants come and take jobs because australian workers do not want to work them. it all comes down to the domestic talent pool and the lack of talent, in either work ethic or skill, in said pool. just darwinism in action. immigration is not the issue, the domestic workforce needs to be improved.

[@TFxBreathtaker]

I can see your skill bro. When you have written two many 😂😂🤣🤣

[@vsboy25]

10 million only for such a important issue, yet they spend half a billion on more police and fancy cars for them.

[@brucebaker3523]

If you believe in helping open up your home, or is it not your problem?

[@KlausBahnhof]

@@brucebaker3523 What.

[@MilitantPeaceist]

Thank You AJ! It is a shame that it took the tennis to highlight this problem which has been steadily growing in Australia (& other countries). Our problems with homelessness are due to the cost of housing. In Australia we have negative gearing (google it) & houses are being bought as offset assets & then rented out well over what the living wage can support. This is not the same as what happens in other countries as they do not have negative gearing & we can link it directly to our homelessness & our rising cost of rental accommodation. The problem exists because it is a perk that rich Australians do not want to give up & poor Australians cannot afford to carry that burden any more.

[@darrinEH]

MilitantPeaceist Does your high minimum wage also play a factor?

[@MilitantPeaceist]

No

[@gregsmith9811]

MilitantPeaceist OK I think it's amazing people take care of each other

[@Bozewani]

yes but that's because Australia has a high cost of living one of the highest in the developed world a 20 USD an hour salary does very little to stop

[@MilitantPeaceist]

Irrelevant when we also have the highest expendable income as well. I explained what it is, why are you trying to re-invent the wheel?

[@steft7903]

That blokes pretty ripped for a homeless person.

[@coxxycabee]

He doesn't eat sugary luxuries.

[@blairtarley6702]

This is Lori Bach. As long as the global cost of living keeps rising and incomes shrinking this is going to continue.

[@mattcoily6281]

they should move to far north Queensland. its a good place to start a new life

[@paigeella7397]

agreed in queenslands its way better and cheaper

[@laionemeihetahikoulakanate9515]

@@paigeella7397 No

[@KlausBahnhof]

Yeah, Queensland is much more chill and relaxed. Melbourne is incredibly uptight and snobby. Aspects of it are great, but it is also really overrated.

[@ezza1236]

Melbourne is so depressing

[@jjooijjjoo1075]

Why?

[@nr1785]

So is Sydney.

[@bruce4130]

Dan Andrews government put the nail in the coffin!

[@wandererj4437]

00:46 that guy looks hoooot

[@Sammyduo214]

lap ja true he can barge in my room anytime hahaha

[@felox1715]

SammyDuo same

[@georgeyau98]

lol rly? i guess u'd have a hard time here in melb

[@Paul-qe1jn]

lap ja it looks like summer and he has his shirt off because of the heat. Guess all that indicates the hotness there.

[@centi123centi6]

PLENTY OF MONEY WITH EVERY GOVT IN WORLD PROBLEM IS SAME CORRUPTION

[@blank.9301]

280,000 people!!

[@bambrum8987]

I dont blame the people in Sydney sleeping on the street, government dont give two shits about these people, but hope there future gives them some sort of shelter to live and be comfortable under one day.

[@vaheguru8635]

The government has plenty of money to easily accommodate them.

[@ray6115]

Give me. I want. Really?

[@leedart2086]

People who have a problem with homeless should be careful they don't drown with there noses up in the air .

[@slimmorden5771]

This is the inevitable result when taxation, either hidden taxes on goods or payroll deductions exceeds a certain level.

[@tallpoppysyndrome9578]

Happening in more and more cities around the western world due to sky high real estate prices, hopefully the bubble will burst when central banks start to increase interest rates and inflation becomes uncontrollable....

[@rubenscott3972]

Wish I could be homeless but I have a wife and kid

[@KlausBahnhof]

Typical Aussie attitude.

[@pamelagarland6631]

AUSYRALIAN RENTAL DEBUCLE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS ...MY SELF AND MY HUSBAND WAITED FOR TEN YEARS TO BE ABLE TO RENT BY SADLY MY HUSBAND PASSED AND NOW BE CAUSED OF THAT SITUATION BEENING AN WIDOW YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE STILL ABLE TO OBTAIN THE HOUSING COMMISSION HOME BUT ALAS YOUR NOT RECOGNISED AS THAT PERSON ....THEY PLACED YOUR NAMED BACK ON THE WAITING LIST FOR ANOTHER TEN YEARS....YOU SIMPLY PAY TOP DOLLAR FOR RENTING IN THE DUMP....AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS NO RESPECT FOR WIDOWS AND THAT IS TRUE ...MY FAMILY HAS KEPT MYSELF SAFE AND IVE THANK GOD FOR ALL OF THEM.....IM NOT VOTING FOR EITHER OF THE MAJOR PARTIES THIS TIME .....PROFIT OVER GREED ..2022....AUSTRALIAN Government does not look After Any One .........

[@bruce4130]

Dan Andrews Melbourne utopia of Victoria

[@hiranthpriya4170]

How do they go to toilet . How do they bathe

[@teza5876]

There's loads of public toilets around Melbourne in parks and on some of the street corners. They could probably slip into mcdonlds toilet ortheshopping centre toilet also. The two weeks i was in my car i found the best public toilets in the general area i was in and did a babywipe or quick scrub in cleanest public toilet with hot water at least once a day.

[@TahsinRabbani]

Justice for all

[@boogiewiremu2367]

Watching at 2024 right now.....

[@yellowfin93]

Rental properties way out of touch and not enough. Maybe local councils and the Australian government can ease regulations and not fine homeless people just for living

[@kimmeath9411]

Government should be helping these people

[@scottatkins7646]

Keep bringing I’m more immigrants ! This government is beyond stupid

[@sunnydeo123]

Dan andrews destroyed this state

[@sue9151]

Melbourne Australia not a 3rd world country.

[@nileshtambe14]

ohh...I thought it's only in third world countries that people lives in on footpaths

[@ihtd23]

Shame for tennis fans really, house them in instead of so called refugees

[@kimmeath9411]

All my wage goes to rent

[@victoriadisson]

bad

[@jaefletcher8336]

Wake up again

[@harrywatson8450]

Hi kaelan

[@kaelanpenney8681]

Harry Watson hi howy

[@BABYCOOKIE918]

Before I got where I am now I was homeless so I completely understand

[@lavenderflowers1075]

What did you do to get away?

[@vexcarius7100]

Wow, being poor in Australia is noice!

[@yugendran9167]

@Another Day lol im immigrant in australia but making 7 figures😂

[@yugendran9167]

@Another Day if u want us to go back then u also should go back to europe

[@MrFreud98]

Melbourne is like a slum now. Homeless everywhere, thanks to greedy property speculators.

[@coopsnz1]

Greedy Victorian labor Government ( Democratic socialism ) equally poor and misrable

[@shauncameron8390]

No. Thanks to greedy governments with their punitive regulations and bureaucracy.

[@mosalethoba5267]

You just get depressed that the world will never get better . Seeing some of the country you consider as the best having the same type of problem as in your country.

[@BABYCOOKIE918]

Some help disabled people who don’t have a vehicle I ask family or friends a head of time to help rent I have 2 children and groceries are hard but churches and others do help I am blessed I always try make things stretch out here our doctor is only 4$ copay with state insurance for medical and you get a $40 card for food or medical use

[@hedylamarr1637]

You've gotta help them and do it fast..if you don't it I'll end up like downtown Los Angeles..And you'll never get on top of it ..ever.

[@stewartdevisser3818]

In the footsteps of America

[@BABYCOOKIE918]

I’m am on disability in America I understand one mistake can lead to being homeless such as not having rent on time but if you don’t have a vehicle you are lucky to have few land lords work with you

[@rimu8288]

Expensive rent expensive groceries Jesus Christ

[@matthewaldgate3903]

Rent is to much in Sydney and Melbourne but they can afford in adelaide and Perth

[@TyWerks]

How is it over there today?

[@bradowen8862]

do some of them have jobs?

[@jo3546]

Lanz Priestly is a kiwi, the sad thing is that many who sleep rough were once middle class citizens, now that the rise in living costs have changed. Also only Australian Citizens are entitled to receiving a benefit not any one who has just arrived.

[@timmartino5314]

Ha ha ha....Congrat to you Australia my Regard from Jakarta.... here in Indonesia many refugees from midleeast who stranded in my country to live in Australia.. for add homeless....😊

[@erenestawanjiru1935]

Where's The Government Please 🥺🥺???

[@galegrazutis964]

You can't expect the government to clean up people's mess all the time. You have to take so.e responsibility for yourself!!!

[@liberalstudiesmaterials899]

May I ask who can render assistance please?

[@KlausBahnhof]

Government. That is their job. They could solve this easily, but would rather spend hundreds of billions of dollars on useless submarines to attack our biggest trading partner, China. Go figure.

[@sydenham9963]

They got dole money from centerlink every fortnightly that's why they dont want to work and find a job ,being homeless is better way to keep the money

[@galegrazutis964]

ABSOLUTELY. And not just centerlink payments, what about a the charities that give the free food and handouts!!!

[@sydenham9963]

@@galegrazutis964 agree 👍

[@galegrazutis964]

@@sydenham9963 😄🙄

[@KlausBahnhof]

You would prefer that they starve to death I guess.

[@sydenham9963]

@@KlausBahnhof lazy people still young and healthy but wasting their life and we are worker paying tax to feed them

[@ConsulBlair]

250 in Melbourne and 500 homeless in Sydney sounds like a low figure to me

[@siqueira797]

With a population of 25 million?

[@KlausBahnhof]

What a sociopathic statement. It should be zero, FFS.

[@thegr8dowite]

This is so satisfying 🤣🤣

[@MarioYun.The.Writer]

Really? I supposed Australia is only heaven state in the world.. my suppose was wrong...

[@vatsalpathak5970]

It is. I’m in Melbourne. If u work hard Melbourne is heaven of earth.

[@TFxBreathtaker]

That's unbelievable for me. I thought that they are too less in population, only 30 millions, so nobody can be poor or homeless there. Very sad

[@shauncameron8390]

New Zealand just entered the chat.