About four members of the group were living there permanently, while eight another men and women would float in and out of the area on any given night.  

But the group was moved on by police on Friday night, after numerous complaints were raised by Central Business District traders who say the group was inhaling drugs, consuming alcohol and verbally abusing people who walked by.   

Police connected the group to welfare agencies to assist them to find emergency accommodation.  

But what happens next?

Welfare advocates say, although not always as visible, such an existence is prevalent in Ballarat. 

Breaking a complex cycle of entrenched poverty is no easy feat.

But a leading welfare organisation has rolled-out a pioneering program tackling the issue in a way that’s never been done before in Ballarat.

Support workers are actively on the streets looking for people who are sleeping rough.

The idea is to confront the poverty and then lend a hand of support to those who need it most. 

The Street to Home pilot program, run by UnitingCare, is an assertive outreach model where a team offers assistance and builds trust with people facing homelessness. 

The aim of the Street to Home pilot program is to break down social barriers faced by people experiencing homelessness.

Finding immediate accommodation is the first step.

But UnitingCare chief executive Carolyn Barrie said at the heart of it was providing “wrap around support” to those at risk of falling back into the cycle by addressing their individual needs.

“If we can get people into housing, then we can work with them on the core issues causing their homelessness and ultimately have better outcomes for those people to stop the cycle reoccurring,” Ms Barrie said. 

Reconnecting them back into their communities by providing physical and mental health support from outreach agencies was a gateway to empowerment through education and employment.  

Statistics show at least 75 people are sleeping rough in Ballarat every night. 

 That’s not counting the 400 people sleeping in insecure crisis accommodation, those sleeping in their cars or the 70 odd families waiting for housing each day.

Soaring rates of family violence, unemployment, drug use, alcoholism, a dire housing shortage and lack of access to crisis accommodation were all contributing factors.

Ms Barrie said a holistic approach with governments, organisations and the community sector working collaboratively was the only way forward. 

The Street to Home pilot program was one of three being rolled out by UnitingCare off the back of the city’s Halving Homeless Think Tank last year.

More than $240,000 has been being pushed into two other housing programs; Housing Ready and More than House. 

The More Than a House program, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services provides an integrated service response to build up the resilience of individuals and families by working with the local real estate sector to keep them in accommodation. 

The Housing Ready program, by the Uniting Church Board of Mission and Resource is a pilot program that strives to empower people through information, resources, skills development and building of self-confidence.

“It will offer certificate level courses to teach clients the fundamental skills required to be a good tenant,” Ms Barrie said.

“The certificate courses will assist clients to enter the private rental market, providing them with evidence of their commitment to and awareness of the expectations of landlords and agents.”

Anglicare Ballarat’s community development manager Bridget Clarke said data showed the increase in homelessness in the region was strongly linked to a shortage of housing affordability and availability.

She said last year, Anglicare’s community breakfast program served more than 6,300 breakfasts to people in need.

But she anticipated numbers would soar this year as demand continues to grow.  

To contact UnitingCare Ballarat call 5332 1286.