A neighbourhood centre dealing with community outreach cases has appealed for help to guarantee staff safety, after a rise in anti-social incidents caused by a spike in homelessness.
Wyong Neighbourhood Centre on the Central Coast, which provides services for youth and family, was forced to close its doors in April and said staff had been reporting anti-social incidents daily, and were unable to provide a safe space to offer their services.
It came as the 2025 Street Count, which monitors homelessness in NSW recorded a 37.5 per cent rise of rough sleepers on the Central Coast.
Megan Maher, coordinator at Wyong Neighbourhood Centre, said: “The anti-social behaviour up here is out of control, we are constantly at council to do something.
“We had weeks where we have contacted police multiple times a day for a whole week, and sometimes the police turn up and sometimes they don’t, it depends on if they have cars in the area.”
Data from the Central Coast area shows it is one of the seven LGA’S that has the largest total increase in the number of people sleeping rough compared to last year.
The Central Coast recorded 66 rough sleepers in February, compared to 48 over the same month last year, a rise of 37.5 per cent.
The neighbourhood centre has been working with Tuggerah Lakes Police District, Wyong Police Station and Central Coast Council, to help vulnerable people, while at the same time providing staff with safety and assurance they can continue their services.
Despite this, staff were removed from the premises and relocated in April due to the dangerous environment around the centre, where individuals were allegedly engaging in criminal behaviour and excessive drug and alcohol use.
Tuggerah Lakes Police District was allocated an additional nine probationary constables earlier this month.
Wyong Neighbourhood Centre on the Central Coast. Photo: Ellouise Ham.
Central Coast said in a response to the neighbourhood centre’s concerns: “Council is aware of the increasing issue of homelessness within the region, similar to that happening across Australia, particularly along the entire eastern seaboard.
“Council works closely with multiple specialist homelessness agencies and government departments like the Police and Health, in trying to find solutions to this whole of society issue.”
Last year, the council released its Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy to help assist residents and families, after their own housing statistics showed there were 20,300 households in housing stress on the Central Coast.
Several local NGO’s, including Bungree Aboriginal Corporation, St Vincent de Paul, Central Coast Tenants Advice, Central Coast LHD, Uniting NSW, NSW Health and Central Coast Council, recently took part in a Central Coast Homelessness Day in Gosford to provide further aid to the local community.
It included free vaccinations and flu shots, tests for illnesses, food and clothing.
Juliette Kratochvil, a youth caseworker at Uniting NSW’s Doorways program, said the event provided “a ‘one-stop shop’ to gain support and access services including Services Australia, ID support, Health Hub including immunisations, homelessness services, domestic and family violence support, neighbourhood centres, mental health support, and NDIS information”.
She added: “Safe, affordable housing is the cornerstone for people to live a good life and reach their potential.”
Main image by GenCraft AI.
