Lord Mayor Robert Doyle says homelessness is ‘biggest social issue’ facing the city

Staff at an overnight cafe for the homeless were threatened on Tuesday night forcing The Salvation Army to close it down for the night.

The incident happened on Tuesday night with Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said it was a matter for police.

The Hamodava Night Cafe on Bourke Street is open from 11pm to 7am.   

Cr Doyle has told Neil Mitchell it’s a serious matter when the people trying to help the most vulnerable are being threatened. 

‘They had to close down – you recall we funded them to open all night because that made a safe, dry place for people go,’ he said.

‘We had some of the staff there threatened.’

Cr Doyle, who is seeking re-election for a third term, said homelessness was the ‘biggest social issue’ facing the city.

‘In terms of syringes, we have never seen anything like this,’ he said.

Click PLAY to hear the full interview on 3AW Mornings: