Designing for passengers, transport and homeless support

As train stations and/or surrounds are redeveloped for business, housing and recreation, public safety and perceptions of safety will be a priority for people, property, and investment – goals which will be challenged by interactions between customers, other visitors and rough sleepers.

This project aims to identify how Transport for NSW (TfNSW) can design space for effective and respectful service provision for rough sleepers who seek shelter in transport precincts whilst not diminishing customer experience or patronage.

Outcomes from this project will support TfNSW contributions toward multilevel government policy initiatives addressing homelessness and precarity in public spaces.

Participants

• Transport for NSW
• La Trobe University

Project background

Transport for NSW manages and builds infrastructure often utilised by organisations that support people who are homeless or sleeping rough, even if we don’t plan for this purpose.

For example, at Central Station, there are over 60 organisations providing support at any given time. This creates a wicked problem as the lack of governance and design has led to the risk of an unsafe environment for both the people who are homeless and those trying to get to and from the station. Central Station exemplifies this issue, but many other Transport for NSW controlled spaces and places have the same problems.

As train stations and/or surrounds are redeveloped for business, housing and recreation, the social and spatial dynamics will change alongside the expectations of how sites should function, who belongs in these spaces, and how they should be controlled. Public safety and perceptions of safety will be a priority for people, property, and investment. This is, and will be, challenged by interactions between passengers, other users of the space and rough sleepers.

Homelessness in and around train stations is a complex issue that is governed by multilevel policy initiatives such as the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement (NHHA) that provides funding and support for homelessness services and housing programs, the NSW Government’s Homelessness Strategy that aims to prevent and reduce homelessness through a range of interventions, including housing assistance and support services, and local government plans such as the City of Sydney’s Homelessness Action Plan, which focuses on implementing local solutions to homelessness in collaboration with community stakeholders and service providers.

This project supports TfNSW contribution to achieving these multilevel government policy initiatives and local level governance by seeking solutions to help manage how it engages with rough sleepers and the agencies serving them, without losing sight or control over transport customer experiences.
Grappling with the challenge is necessary, because people who are homeless have a right to be in public places and to participate in public events (Homelessness Action Plan 2020, Protocol for Homeless People in Public Places).

Objectives

1. Identify stakeholders, their services and needs.
2. Seek clarity on the services that are provided at a broad range of Transport precincts, how they are coordinated and communicated to those in need.
3. Understand best practice in creating infrastructure that accommodates for delivery of homeless services.

Please note …

This page will be a living record of this project. As it matures, hits milestones, etc., we’ll continue to add information, links, images, interviews and more. Watch this space!