Joint statement: Reinforcing stereotypes about homelessness in Australian media

A recent opinion piece published in the Herald Sun included derogatory descriptions of people sleeping rough and contributes to a misleading understanding of the causes and experience of homelessness.

More than 105,000 people came to Victorian homelessness services last year. And many more couldn’t even get through our doors, so extreme is the need for support. These people came not because they chose to be homeless, but because our systems are not providing the essential services Victorians need to lead safe and dignified lives.

Fixing those systems relies on the community having an accurate understanding of homelessness. So it’s vital our media are informed and constructive in how they report and lead public conversations about the experience of homelessness.

Council to Homeless Persons strongly recommends the Australian Press Council issue Advisory Guidelines on the reporting of homelessness to assist this approach and to help protect people experiencing homelessness from the stigma caused by inaccurate or misguided reporting. We support the Homeless Persons Union of Victoria’s complaint to the Australian Press Council about this opinion piece and join them in this public statement.

Deborah Di Natale
CEO, Council to Homeless Persons