People are committing minor crimes in order to get "locked up" for the winter months, as local homeless statistics continue to spiral out of control.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Last financial year, over 1000 Tamworth residents "received support for homelessness, or risk of homelessness", according to Tamworth Family Support Service manager Leigh Smith.
"There are actually less rough sleepers in winter, people are getting themselves locked up if they have to, it is a known and prevalent thing," he said.
"They will just smash a car window, or steal a few bottles of alcohol - something they know, with their history, will get them two or three months jail for winter."
Read more:
On Thursday, nearly one thousand people came through the doors of TRECC for the seventh annual Homeless Connect day, a record crowd, which is a bittersweet statistic for Mr Smith, and the community.
"It is fantastic that we have reduced the stigma around homelessness, which means more people are coming out to seek the support they need," he said.
"But it is not good because we do know that the numbers are increasing every year."
Alarmingly there is also a growing group of people that are both homeless and employed, as the drought, stagnant wage growth, and soaring costs of living continue taking a heavy toll.
"Ten per cent of those 1000 people we saw are working, but just can't maintain enough income to meet rent, electricity and other necessities of life," he said.
"The drought is absolutely impacting. There is less money, less jobs, and lots of under-employed people, while everything keeps going up in price.
"We need multiple things in Tamworth - we need the drought to end and business to thrive, we need actual affordable rental housing, and much more mental health, drug and alcohol services. We need all three levels of government to step up."
Over 45 local support organisations attended Tamworth's Homeless Connect day to both showcase their services to the public.
