It is Anchor’s belief that no one should be left behind in homelessness, and it absolutely shouldn’t be a death sentence. Yet for around 12,500 people in the last decade, that has been their fate.
Jamaine was a wonderful individual whose experience of homelessness and trauma saw him pass away at the age of just 29.
Having supported Jamaine during his time sleeping rough in Lilydale and helping him get established in his accommodation Anchor was passionate to get Jamaine’s story told out to show that beyond the numbers and statistics, the homelessness crisis impacts real human beings who are trying as best they can to leave homelessness behind.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare recently released data on the deaths of people who had accessed specialist homelessness services like Anchor in the 12 months prior to their deaths.
The AIHW data showed that almost 1,500 people die each year in homelessness, with the annual death toll rising from 914 in 2012-13 to 1,489 in 2021-22 – a 63% increase.
Anchor has been advocating to government for more housing options and refuges to be built in the outer east, as well as the need for the government to commit to building ten priority youth Foyers, including one in Lilydale that would provide a 40-bed location to support young people with an experience of homelessness to get back on track via education and career support.
