Every day, between 70 and 100 people come through the doors of the Early Morning Centre, a Civic community hub for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and social isolation. 

They may be women with children sleeping in cars; older women with little superannuation or savings; people on Centrelink payments shut out of private rentals; and young people unable to remain at home.

“Pretty much everybody’s at risk of homelessness,” director Nicole Wiggins said. “Most families, most individuals, are just a few paycheques away from homelessness. If they suddenly became very sick or injured and weren’t able to work, not a lot of people have a massive amount of money in their bank account to keep paying rent and bills.”

Ms Wiggins describes the EMC as a “one-stop shop” where people can eat, have a cuppa, and connect with support services. Some come for a hot breakfast, a shower, a locker, or to use a computer. Others need help finding cheap accommodation, legal advice, healthcare or emergency food. Some come for community activities, like arts and crafts or a current affairs discussion group.

Many return because the EMC recognises their humanity.

“One of the Centre’s aims is to provide people with connection to the community and reduce isolation and loneliness,” Ms Wiggins said. “Homeless people can feel very lonely – quite invisible. We provide connection and a safe space.”

On one recent Monday, the Centre served 45 breakfasts, 65 lunches, and 130 cups of tea or coffee. But when the Centre surveys clients, many say their main reason for coming is neither breakfast nor lunch, but a sense of community. 

The EMC staff remember clients’ names, and whether someone takes coffee with three sugars, wants the milk poured first, or prefers four spoonfuls of Milo and two sugars. 

“That makes people feel a little bit special and remembered, that they’re important, that they’re not just alone, that there are people who do care about them and are interested and want to help,” Ms Wiggins said.

The main causes of homelessness in Canberra are housing availability and affordability. 

“It’s a really difficult rental market,” Ms Wiggins said. “If somebody’s on a Centrelink payment, private rental in the ACT – and in most places in Australia – is pretty much impossible.”

People struggling to pay rent or facing possible eviction should apply for public housing as early as possible, Ms Wiggins advises. They should also approach community housing providers, and could reduce costs by moving into a share house, downsizing to a cheaper rental property, or letting out a room.

Only a very small population of homeless people live around the city, Ms Wiggins said. Many camp on the side of Mt Ainslie, or out at the Cotter. Others sleep in their cars past Dickson. In winter, homelessness becomes more visible as people move closer to Civic buildings for shelter.

A nod, making eye contact, and saying hello can go a long way towards making homeless people feel seen and human. Some people, particularly those with mental health issues, might not welcome the engagement, but Ms Wiggins advises the public not to be deterred from acknowledging others.

“Most people will react well to being acknowledged as a human being and somebody who is there and not invisible,” Ms Wiggins said.

One of the biggest misconceptions, Ms Wiggins says, is that alcohol and drug abuse causes homelessness. A small percentage may develop problems with substances to numb the pain or boredom of homelessness, through mixing with others who use drugs, or because alcohol can make them feel warmer in winter.

People often ask Ms Wiggins whether they should give money to homeless people. 

“I don’t have an answer to that question,” Ms Wiggins said. “If you feel like you want to give that person money, then go ahead and do that. But if you want to ensure that it’s definitely going to food or blankets, then you’re probably better off donating to a charity.”

Not just the EMC, Ms Wiggins says, but any reputable homeless charity.

How to support the EMC

The public can help the EMC’s own work by donating money or food; volunteering; and organising collection boxes at schools or workplaces. 

The EMC distributes about 150 emergency food packs a week. It buys around 95 per cent of the contents itself, but both demand and grocery prices are rising. 

“We’re struggling to keep within our food budget,” Ms Wiggins said. “So any help adds up and goes a long way.”

The food pack includes:

• Cup of noodles (70g)
• Cup-a-soup (40g)
• Tin of baked beans (300g)
• Tin of tuna (95g)
• Single pack of cereal (30g)
• Pack of sultanas (40g)
• Muesli bar (31g)
• Fruit cup (125g)
• Juice box (250ml)
• Small UHT (long-life) milk (150ml)
• Sugar-free chewing gum
• Tea bags and coffee & sugar sachets

Some school children collect a few things and bring in a basket of food once a month. One boy began collecting food at school after seeing someone living on the street; his monthly boxes encouraged classmates to contribute individual items. 

“If a nine-year-old can do that, then other people can do that,” Ms Wiggins said. “And even if somebody doesn’t have the funds to donate anything themselves because they’re struggling, they could put a box at their workplace and encourage other people. Even if it’s only brought in once every six months, and there are 10 tins in there, it all makes a big difference because of how many packs we give out.”

Even a single donated item could help stretch the centre’s budget, Ms Wiggins said.

“The cost of living is getting high, but people even donating just one or two items once a month makes a really big difference,” Ms Wiggins said.

Overall, solving homelessness requires expanding housing supply and treating housing as a basic right, Ms Wiggins believes.

“Australia is a rich country; Canberra’s a rich city. We should be able to solve this. Other countries have solved this problem. It’s not an impossible problem like world peace. But solving homelessness in Australia really shouldn’t be that hard.”

The Early Morning Centre, 69 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra City. Website: https://www.emc.org.au. The EMC is run by Canberra City Uniting Church with government support. Donations can be dropped off to the EMC. For more information on how to support the EMC, visit https://www.emc.org.au/support-us/.