Caseworkers in Bathurst are being inundated with up to 12 new referrals a day; and with refuges already at capacity, there is no option but to sleep rough until alternative accommodation can be found.

The issue raised its head in the Bathurst Local Court last week, when a 35-year-old man, who didn’t have a licence was caught driving by police.

The man, along with his niece and nephew were homeless, and had been sleeping in a car after being evicted from their house.

The man’s mother had passed away, and as the lease on their house was in his mother’s name, he along with his niece and nephew who had also lived there had to leave.

With no where to stay, all three had slept in the vehicle at night.

He came to the attention of police after being caught driving.

Thanks to Wattle Tree House, an organisation which assists homeless people in Bathurst, the man has secured a property in his name where he can live with his niece and nephew. Without it all three would be on the street.

Wattle Tree House team leader Ange Brown said the issue of homelessness in Bathurst is huge, and said many people don’t realise how many people are sleeping rough.

She said in most cases there is a three week wait to be assessed. “On some days we have 12 people walking through the door.”

In the meantime, Ms Brown said people seek refuge by sleeping in cars, on park benches, in doorways or under the Denison Bridge.

She said homelessness affects all ages and genders, with clients often having underlying complexities such as mental health issues. 

Others she said make the choice, for example, a family living in their car, rather than being split up.