WHILE funding for services for homeless people is the responsibility of federal and state governments, council is often at the front-line of dealing with people sleeping rough in public places.
As a result, Redland City Council has adopted a policy aimed at supporting and reducing the number of people experiencing homelessness.
The policy comes six months after council gave people living in a make-shift homeless refuge at Capalaba - known as tent city - an ultimatum to move on.
Mayor Karen Williams said in council on Wednesday that the response to homelessness needed a co-ordinated approach to help people out of the situation.
She commended officers for their approach in dealing with tent city, saying they had shown compassion, did not just disperse people and had worked to help people find a way out of homelessness.
While the number of homeless people in the Redlands is difficult to estimate, 247 people were regarded as homeless at the last Census in 2016.
Cr Julie Talty said the homelessness policy put into writing the approach that had been followed by council officers for some time.
She said reports made to her of people sleeping rough had been dealt with by officers sensitively.
"I have never had one instance that has not been resolved to the benefit of the people who found themselves in that situation," Cr Talty said.
Cr Edwards said he had taken council's chief executive officer Andrew Chesterman soon after his appointment to Russell Island where a high number of people were sleeping rough.
"Council dealt with them with empathy," Cr Edwards said.
People were referred to services and the number of homeless people had decreased.
Since being faced with Capalaba's tent city, Cr Williams said she had met with Housing Minister Mick de Brenni and local service providers to discuss homelessness in the Redlands.
"...Council officers have been - and will continue - working with community groups and government agencies to build capacity in the service system through a co-ordinated multi-agency response to homelessness," Cr Williams said.
"...I am confident that by working together the state government, council and the fantastic community organisations we have locally can build on the existing services supporting those in our community facing homelessness."
Cr Williams said she was confident that council's policy would complement what the state government was doing.
It articulated council's commitment towards improving services to those who were homeless and its role and approach in responding to homelessness.
"The policy recognises the complexity of homelessness and the vulnerability of those who are experiencing it while balancing the rights of the public to access and enjoy the use of public space and feel safe," she said.
She said homelessness impacted all communities.
"The causes of homelessness are varied and complex and homelessness is often accompanied by other factors such as poverty, drug and alcohol addiction, mental health issues and disabilities and a lack of social support," Cr Williams said.
"It is an issue that cannot be resolved quickly but one that needs government and community collaboration."
