People Experiencing Homelessness or Rough Sleeping Near Scout Facilities

People Experiencing Homelessness or Rough Sleeping Near Scout Facilities

Introduction

People experiencing homelessness may sometimes sleep, camp or spend extended periods in parks, reserves, public spaces or other areas close to Scout facilities. In some circumstances, a person may also enter or remain on land that is controlled exclusively by Scouts Queensland.
These situations should be approached with compassion, respect and good judgement, while recognising that our first responsibility is the safeguarding of youth members and visiting young people participating in Scouting.
A person's homelessness, appearance or presence near a Scout facility does not, by itself, mean they present a risk to Scouts.
Our priorities should be:
  1. Safeguarding youth members and visiting young people
  2. Maintaining a safe environment for members and visitors
  3. Treating people experiencing homelessness with dignity and compassion
  4. Protecting Scouts Queensland property and facilities
Protection of property is important, but it should not lead volunteers to unnecessarily place themselves or members at risk.

Understanding the situation

Homelessness and rough sleeping are complex community issues. People may be sleeping in vehicles, tents, makeshift shelters or other locations because they have limited or no access to safe and secure accommodation.
Scout facilities are often located within or adjacent to parks, reserves and other community spaces. This means people experiencing homelessness may occasionally be close to Scout activities without actually being on land controlled exclusively by Scouts Queensland.
Adult Volunteers should avoid making assumptions about a person based simply on their circumstances.
The appropriate response should instead be based on where the person is located and what is actually occurring.

Public or shared spaces

Where a Scout facility is located within a public park, reserve or similar shared area, Scouts Queensland may have little or no authority over people using areas outside the boundaries of the Scout lease or licence.
The presence of someone sleeping or camping nearby does not necessarily require intervention.
Where there is no concerning behaviour and the person is not interfering with Scout activities, the most appropriate response may simply be to maintain awareness of the situation and ensure appropriate supervision of youth members.
If rough sleeping or camping becomes an ongoing concern, Adult Volunteers can raise the matter with the relevant landowner or managing authority. They may be able to assess the situation and engage appropriate homelessness, outreach or community support services.
The objective should not simply be to move a person elsewhere, but wherever reasonably possible to allow the appropriate agencies to engage with them and offer assistance.

Scout-controlled or secure sites

The situation may be different where Scouts Queensland owns the property, holds exclusive possession under a lease or controls a fenced or otherwise secure site.
A person entering or establishing a camp within such an area without permission may potentially be trespassing.
However, the fact that a person may not have permission to be on the property does not mean a volunteer should personally confront or attempt to remove them.
If you discover someone apparently sleeping or camping on a Scout-controlled site:
  1. Keep youth members away from the immediate area.
  2. Ensure adequate adult supervision and maintain normal safeguarding arrangements.
  3. Do not enter a tent, shelter, vehicle or personal space.
  4. Do not touch, move or dispose of the person's belongings.
  5. Do not attempt to physically remove the person.
  6. Avoid arguments, threats or demands that could unnecessarily escalate the situation.
  7. Seek assistance through the appropriate authority, such as the Police and report to Scouts Queensland line system and/or State Office.
Where there is no immediate threat, Adult Volunteers should generally seek advice before taking further action.

Safeguarding children and young people

Alert
The safety of youth members is the overriding priority.
Normal Scouts Queensland child protection and supervision arrangements should continue to be applied, including appropriate adult-to-youth ratios, two-deep leadership and buddy arrangements.
Depending on the circumstances, Adult Volunteers should consider additional practical controls such as keeping activities away from the affected area, supervising arrival and departure areas, ensuring youth members do not approach camps or shelters and reviewing access to toilets or other facilities located away from the main activity area.
Youth members should be instructed to tell a trusted adult if they are approached by someone they do not know or if anything makes them feel unsafe.
Importantly, Adult Volunteers should not encourage fear or describe a person experiencing homelessness as dangerous simply because of their circumstances.

Avoid direct confrontation

As a general principle, Adult Volunteers should not confront people experiencing homelessness, attempt to personally move them on or become involved in disputes about their presence.
There may be circumstances where an Adult Volunteerneeds to speak calmly to someone - for example, to advise that a Scout activity is occurring or to prevent someone inadvertently entering an activity area. Any interaction should be respectful, brief and non-confrontational.
If the person becomes aggressive, threatening or refuses to leave an area where Scouts have exclusive possession, disengage and seek assistance rather than escalating the interaction.

Where a youth member is at immediate risk

Alert
The exception is where immediate action is reasonably necessary to protect a youth member or visiting young person from harm.
If someone is threatening, attempting to harm, pursuing or otherwise placing a youth member in immediate danger, Adult Volunteers should prioritise getting the youth member to safety, alert other adults and contact emergency services.
An Adult Volunteermay need to intervene to protect a youth member from immediate harm but, should not place themselves or other youth members at unnecessary risk.
For an immediate threat to life or safety, contact emergency services on Triple Zero (000).

Concerning or antisocial behaviour

Homelessness itself should not be treated as antisocial behaviour.
However, particular behaviour may require action regardless of whether the person involved is experiencing homelessness. Examples could include:
  1. threatening, intimidating or aggressive behaviour;
  2. approaching or attempting inappropriate contact with youth members;
  3. violence or threats of violence;
  4. theft, attempted theft or deliberate property damage;
  5. deliberately entering secured Scout buildings or restricted areas;
  6. unsafe fires or other immediate hazards; and
  7. significant drug or alcohol-related behavior affecting Scout activities.
Adult Volunteers should focus on the behaviour and the risk it creates rather than the person's housing circumstances.
For immediate danger, contact Triple Zero (000). For matters requiring Police assistance but which are not an emergency, contact Policelink on 131 444.
Significant incidents involving Scout members, activities or property should also be reported through Scouts Queensland's normal incident reporting processes.

Property and belongings

If someone has established a camp on Scout-controlled land, their belongings should not simply be removed, relocated or disposed of by volunteers.
There may be legal, safety and welfare considerations associated with dealing with tents, bedding, personal belongings, abandoned property, needles, human waste or other materials.
Warning
Seek advice before arranging removal or cleaning.
Where hazardous items such as needles or other potentially contaminated material are found, isolate the area from youth members and arrange appropriate safe collection or disposal rather than asking volunteers or youth members to handle them.

Before commencing an activity

Where Adult Volunteers are aware that someone is camping or regularly spending time near a Scout facility, the Leader in Charge should consider the circumstances as part of normal activity planning.

Ask yourself: 

Is there an immediate risk to youth members?
If yes, move youth members to a safe location, modify or suspend the activity if necessary and seek appropriate assistance.
Can the activity operate safely with additional supervision or separation?
If yes, implement reasonable controls and continue to monitor the situation.
Is the person in a public/shared area or on Scout-controlled property?
This will help determine whether the matter should be referred to the landowner/managing authority, Scouts Queensland or Police.
Has any concerning behaviour actually occurred?
Respond to observed behaviour and credible risks rather than assumptions based on someone's appearance or circumstances.

When to seek assistance

Adult Volunteers should seek assistance rather than trying to resolve complex situations themselves.
Depending on the circumstances, assistance may come from:
  1. Scouts Queensland;
  2. the property owner or land management authority;
  3. homelessness or community outreach services;
  4. Police non-emergency services; or
  5. emergency services where there is an immediate threat to safety.
Where Scouts Queensland occupies land under a lease or licence, the relevant landowner or managing authority should generally be informed of ongoing issues occurring in surrounding public areas.
For Scout-owned or exclusively controlled property, contact the Scouts Queensland State Office for advice where there is no immediate emergency, but assistance is required to manage unauthorised occupation or access.

Maintaining perspective

People experiencing homelessness are members of our community and should be treated with dignity.
Most interactions will not represent an immediate threat to Scout members. Our response should therefore be proportionate to the actual circumstances.
At the same time, Adult Volunteers should never feel that compassion requires them to compromise the safeguarding of youth members and visiting young people or personally manage a situation that makes them uncomfortable or appears unsafe.
Idea
Be compassionate. Maintain appropriate boundaries. Safeguard our youth. Avoid confrontation. Seek assistance when needed.