Without Vinnies Night Patrol, Canberra’s homeless people would go hungry and cold, says volunteer Greg Young.

Set up 21 years ago, in August 2001, the Night Patrol operates 364 nights a year, its two vans in Civic, Dickson, and Queanbeyan bringing food and hot drinks (tea, coffee, Milo, soup), fruit, clothing, sleeping bags, blankets, and hygiene packs.

But for many, it’s the human connection that matters. To the volunteers, the homeless people are ‘companions’: “our friends,” Mr Young explains.

The Night Patrol program was introduced to break the social isolation that perpetuates homelessness by providing social and emotional support, Canberra/Goulburn CEO Lucy Hohnen explained. It offered friendship, support, and compassion to people on the streets at night, while upholding their dignity, to let them know others cared about their situation and could help them turn their lives around.

Night Patrol volunteers noticed that for most people they came across, this was the first time someone took the time to listen to them. It was a crucial step to earning their trust and helping them move forward, Ms Hohnen said.

“Vinnies is always here, has always been here for me, and you come with no barrow to push,” one homeless person told Ms Hohnen. “You guys are always here to listen. That’s why I like Vinnies … it’s unconditional support.”

“It’s great just to be able to speak to people,” Mr Young says. “A lot of companions don’t have interactions throughout the day – they’ll sit in a park, and not have much to discuss. When we go out, they want to tell their story and chat about what’s happening.”

One man in Queanbeyan, for instance, “comes up with these pieces of paper – ‘Have a look at my latest idea!’ – and we’ll talk about his ideas. He gets enjoyment out of that.”

Last year, the Night Patrol served 8,000 people, even with lockdowns and reduced volunteers, and provided more than 5,000 items of clothing, blankets, sleeping bags, and hygiene packs. During the lockdown, the Night Patrol did not miss a single night, but provided more than 1,600 counts of service to its ‘companions’, and helped ACT Health to vaccinate homeless people.

In the week of its 21st anniversary, 1-7 August, it provided 167 counts of assistance (24 people a night).

Night Patrol officers Sean Curtis and Mansour Burges received the 2021 Volunteer Manager of the Year Award; they worked seven nights a week for several months when the COVID-19 restrictions were imposed. Similarly, Mr Young was named Volunteering ACT Volunteer of the Year.

Homelessness is increasing in the community, Ms Hohnen says: between 1,600 and 2,000 people are homeless on any given night in Canberra. Women now make up 22 per cent of the people seeking help; in the last six months, the number of women connecting with Night Patrol Vans has increased by 3 per cent.

The profile of people seeking help has changed, too.

“They have jobs, families to support; some have lost houses in the pandemic,” Ms Hohnen said.

One man, Mr Young recalls, was evicted during the COVID lockdown when he could not pay his rent; he ended up sleeping in his car. But his story had a happy ending: he found a new job, got enough funds to move back into a unit, and started his life again.

Others are not so lucky. While the stereotype is of people sleeping rough on the streets, many homeless people are sleeping in cars, in tents at the Cotter, or couch surfing – the victims of living pressures, the lack of social and affordable housing, family breakdown, domestic violence, or alcohol and drug abuse.

“It could happen to anybody we know; it could happen to us, even those with a job, let alone a health or a social issue,” Ms Hohnen said. “Life is complex, and the pressures on people are immense.”

“A run of luck, or bad circumstances – and you can be out,” Mr Young explains. “If you haven’t got any family to fall back on, it can be very difficult for people.”

Some homeless people, he says, cannot get back on their feet, because society won’t give them a go.

“I believe that most of them have got the skills and abilities to help society in some way. But trying to find who’s going to give them that opportunity can be very difficult.”

Rebecca Vassarotti, ACT Minister for Homelessness and Housing Services, believes that homelessness should be rare, brief, and non-recurring. She intends to achieve just that the ACT, and is developing policies to target systemic issues and social determinants to end homelessness for good.

“In one of the most affluent cities in one of the most affluent countries of the world, we all have a responsibility to do all we can to eliminate homelessness in this city,” she said.

• Multi-pronged policy response to homelessness (27 August)
• Australia must bridge gaps on homelessness for better mental health (10 August)
• ACT urged to recognise link between homelessness, mental health (7 August)
• Almost 1 in 20 ACT teens experienced homelessness during pandemic (28 July)

In the meantime, while out with the Night Patrol in Dickson, Ms Vassarotti was struck that the night patrol was “a magnet for people who needed it”. Its volunteers treated people with dignity and respect, giving them kind words, unprompted additional suggestions, and help.

“Vinnie’s hard work has truly improved outcomes for people sleeping rough across the city and just over the border in Queanbeyan,” she said.

Dr Emma Campbell, CEO of the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), said that through the Night Patrol and other programs, Vinnies makes “an incredible contribution to supporting those who face financial and social disadvantage in the ACT”.

How can you help?

Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn is raising funds to equip its Night Patrol Vans with lifesaving defibrillators. To learn more, or to donate, visit: https://bit.ly/3b0BL3c, or search for Hearts of Vinnies on the Shout for Good website.

Night Patrol Vans are running low in stocks for men’s jackets and jumpers (good quality), socks, and quality sleeping bags. To donate, visit your local Vinnies shop and let staff know that it is for Night Patrol, or email [email protected].

“We always need blankets and sleeping bags and good clothing and footwear,” says volunteer Tom McGuinness. He is team leader from the general hands day shift, which maintains the patrol vehicles and collects and stocks the food and clothing.

“Some people have old blankets that are still perfectly good, but they don’t want it anymore,” Mr Young said. “We’ll take anything in good condition that people don’t want.”

One homeless man ended up in Canberra from Mackay, Queensland, with only a T-shirt, slacks, and a pair of thongs. “He was freezing,” Mr Young remembered. He gave him a jacket and some socks.

“The next night, he was very happy, and had a good night’s sleep, for a change. These little things can be small, but make such a difference for our companions.”

Mr Young and Mr McGuinness encouraged the public to join up and volunteer, too.

“It’s very rewarding,” Mr McGuinness said.

Volunteering can be as little as one shift of three hours a month; training takes an hour and a half, then volunteers go out with experienced team leaders and learn the ropes, Mr Young said.

“I’ve never felt insecure or at threat from anybody when I’ve been out… Everybody’s well behaved… They’ll help wherever possible: they’re very friendly and appreciative.

“It would be easy to stay at home, especially on cold wet nights, but we always need to consider what our companions are going through, and what they are experiencing. To me, it is getting out and giving some support to the people who are less fortunate than myself.

“I can always go home to a comfortable warm bed, while our companions do not have this luxury.”

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