Actually, runner, there are in the order of 10000 homeless people in Sweden, out of population of 9 million. In Denmark (population 5.4 million), it's as low as 5000 (officially under 3000).
In contrast Australia has over 100000 homeless out of population of 21 million.
Even allowing for possible differences in terminology and counting methods, there is no way you can argue that homelessness is worse in "socialist" European countries.

Sources:
http://www.sos.se/SOS/PUBL/REFERENG/0015001E.htm
http://www.feantsa.org/code/en/country.asp?ID=4&Page=22
http://afho.org.au/facts/stats/archives/2002_03/2002_2003.htm

A powerful article - thanks for the link.

As for the homework, what a great idea if it's followed through on.

All our pollies and senior public servants should have a proportion of their time spent out and about getting first hand experience of issues facing people in this country. Not gatherings of party faithful or special guest appearances at functions where they are a guest of honor but rather having a look at the state of the facilities in schools. Spending some time with the homeless. Maybe a day or two talking to people waiting outside the courts for their appearance - family court and FMC come to mind but also talking to people facing criminal charges might be useful. Tagging along with cops for a while. The list could go on and on.

If Rudd is serious about the homework and follows through I may have to revise my opinion of him.

R0bert

Q & A - yes, the plethora of posts on burning questions like "Are Gay People Really Human" and "Did God Dictate the Bible Direct or Did He Have a Secretary" - not to mention "Is Australia At Risk from Migrating Herds of Ilks?" really show up the lack of response to issues that may be a tad more urgent.

Although I am a-political, at the beginning of last year I did a report for Julia Gillard on the homeless on QLDs North Coast, following a doco on homeless kids in the same area I'd done. The year before did one on Centrelink. Gillard was the only polly at the time to take any interest.

Every time I have written an article or posted on this forum the response in regard to the disadvantaged has been to the effect that those nasty homeless people or single parents are only disadvantaged because of Feminists or Multiculturalism or...hell, I don't know..the Demon of the Day. Even those who don't go that far poo poo the idea that there is a problem, or that "they" haven't done something wrong to land in such a position. Then there is the ubiquitous answer that it is all the fault of wanting a plasma t.v. or a "Macmansion". Not to mention those who accuse one of telling lies and demand personal details or contacts.

So, yes, The linked article was great and everyone on this thread took it seriously: but if these kinds of forums mirror the "average" Australian I still despair of ever getting support for reform before people start with the..."I don't pay my taxes to support no-hopers..." line.

wizofaus

IN 2003 Time magazine did an article on the homeless rates in Europe compared to America. Their conclusions:

'That Europe's homelessness problem is roughly the same as America's is a shock. After all, Europe sees itself as more socially responsible than the U.S. "

'But economics is only a small part of the problem. Unlike Eastern Europe and Russia, where homelessness is mostly a result of massive unemployment, the profile of Western Europe's homeless is much more complicated. A large proportion owe their condition to nonfinancial difficulties — alcoholism or drug addiction, mental disabilities, or trauma brought on by physical or psychological abuse. "We're talking about people who have been raped or severely beaten up as children, who've had bad marriages, lost loved ones, been thrown out of jobs or suffered other kinds of indignities," says Dublin social-research consultant Brian Harvey. "Homelessness is the end of the line in a series of personal disasters."

the structure of oz society makes homelessness inevitable. oz is not an inclusive society. ozzians are willing to ostracize losers, lest they be called on to share some of their own benefits with others. this is the consequence of capitalism, which is really the euphemism for the 'law of the jungle'.

humanity is capable of inclusive society, but thus far such societies have not been able to compete successfully with the aggressive societies based on greed and power-seeking. as earth fills up, perhaps the utility of inclusive societies will become more persuasive.

Runner

I agree with you; these issues should rise above politics. I only raised this thread because it was the Liberal Party that accused Rudd of a political ‘stunt’. Rudd just wanted to focus his ‘Class of 07’ on the reality of the homeless in Australian society today. Why don’t you say to the Liberal Party, they “would have a lot more credibility if they left politics out of this, as they only display their ignorance,” rather than point it at my intelligence or lack thereof?

Seriously, we expect our leaders to tackle the big issues (like this) in a reasoned and rational way. Rudd appears to be doing this and we can only wish him well.

Look at Climate Change, this too should be apolitical – you should be an environmentalist first, it does not belong to the domain of Labor – look at Turnbull doing a “me-too”, look at the Californian governor, both conservatives.

It seems to me that the only way the planet is going to solve the BIG issues facing the world today is if people with divergent views somehow meet in the middle – convergent policies if you like. The neo-con policies of Bush and extreme communism will not bode well for the world – a more centrist approach is needed, as displayed by Rudd’s social conservatism.

Nelson/Turnbull recognised this, Howard/Costello didn’t. I wish Nelson/Turnbull well, if only to encourage Rudd to try harder.

As far as some states go, yep – a shocker. Example, they could not fund separate institutions for people with mental disabilities – whose policy was it to reintroduce these people into mainstream society without adequate resources? Now these people end up in hospital beds or gaols for God’s sake! You have to ask, WHY?

Give me a better State alternative and I would be the first to jump.

Anyone else have difficulties logging in today?