QUESTION EVERYTHING

Have you ever wondered just what you would take with you and your family should you suddenly became homeless?

Do you know what the definition of being poor means?

POVERTY TEST

One test of poverty is the following list: If you answer to one or more of these questions you are possibly poor however lack of money is not the only measure of poverty.

Cannot afford a week’s holiday from home each year

Cannot afford a night out once a fortnight

Cannot afford to have friends/family over for a meal once per month

Cannot afford a special meal once a week

Cannot afford brand new clothes [that is new not used or second-hand]

Cannot afford leisure or hobby activities

In the last year due to shortage of money, could not pay gas or electricity or telephone on time

In the last year due to shortage of money, could not pay car registration or insurance on time

In the last year due to shortage of money pawned or sold something

In the last year due to shortage of money went without meals

In the last year due to shortage of money was unable to heat or cool the home. [With an electric fan or heater]

In the last year due to shortage of money sought assistance from a welfare or community agency

In the last year due to shortage of money sought help from a friend or family

Could not raise $2000 in a week if I had to.

Note: Does this test assume rents/mortgages are paid and that the person owns a car? Given that a very large section of WA is under financial stress

What is the definition of homeless? Are people in prison, or hospital, or in an institution or in a shelter but otherwise they have nowhere to live homeless? Beyond Shelter knows!

SERVING THE POOR AND THE HOMELESS

On September 6, the people of Western Australia went to the polls to elect a new government.

There was no clear outright win however a minority government was formed by an alliance between the Liberal Party, The National Party and several independents.

Clearly the plight of the homeless and the poor or the pensioners was not high on any pre-election agenda by any party therefore we are not anticipating any action in the near future.

We are not political but somewhat amused by politicians understanding of what families want. None of the candidates have seen poverty and homelessness as an issue. The fact that many thousands of families are in financial stress and homelessness is worsening is not as important it seems. One very senior politician advised us that homeless people only have themselves to blame - they get the same money as anyone else. Oh! Really. With the cost of new homes being up to 11 times incomes and rents up to 60% of earnings for lower income families - it's their fault? Just like it their fault that when the gas pipe blew up they had to use less gas and electricity when domestic users consume only 7% of supply. When we are short of water who has to give up water?

There will come a day when we will not use water to make products sold overseas. We cant afford to export water.

Given that the budget for welfare in Australia is almost as much as the taxation we give them they either have to find more money from somewhere or reduce the amount given out. We have a better idea - Government should stop mucking about and listen to people who can solve the problem.

There is a choice

Question

How come we have to pay ridiculous prices for land when we are one of the largest countries in the world and we have so much land and really a very small population?

What does an affordable home mean?

We know!