Homeless camp dubbed ‘tent city’ under Lord Street bridge in East Perth destroyed by fire

A Perth homeless camp dubbed “tent city” has become even more dangerous after a series of fires which destroyed all the belongings of some of its residents and left the site covered in ash. The West Australian can reveal Fire and Rescue were twice called to rubbish fires last week at “tent city” at the Lord Street underpass where several homeless people had been camped out. Both fires have been described as accidental and no one was injured. But despite the site being left covered in ash at least three tents remain at the camp. Noongar woman Connie Kelly, 34, had been living at the site until the first fire on Wednesday last week. She said the fire had destroyed “everything she owns”. This included clothing and photos of her six children who are aged 18 to 5. While one of her children is in Banksia Hill detention centre, Ms Kelly said her other kids were in State care. “Some of their clothes got burnt too, sometimes they run away (from their care placements) and come and see me,” Ms Kelly said. “I’m just glad they weren’t there with me where they could have got hurt.” Ms Kelly said she was now sleeping on the streets. She became homeless about three years ago after her mother died of lung cancer. “I just want my kids to grow up with an education, I never wanted them to get criminal records,” she said. “But they worry about me a lot and it makes it really tough for them.” Jane Simmons, acting regional executive director Community Services, said the Department of Communities was aware that firefighters were called out on the nights of January 6 and 8. “There are currently three tents still situated at the camp and Communities continues to work with its community service partners to support the six to eight people who remain at the site with resources and connect them to appropriate longer-term accommodation options,” Ms Simmons said. In recent months the department had worked with State Government-funded homelessness service providers to connect 35 people at the site with short-term accommodation. Thirteen people have been returned to country, and 18 assessments have been completed and referrals made to longer-term accommodation options that include St Bart’s, the Beacon, Uniting WA, public housing and private rentals. The destruction of the Lord Street site comes as Fremantle’s homeless camp in Pioneer Park has grown to 50 tents, with 100 people now living there.

Homeless camp dubbed ‘tent city’ under Lord Street bridge in East Perth destroyed by fire

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