A man, lost to both his family and society, has passed away in a quiet and unremarkable manner, only to be discovered six days later, unnoticed by the many who walked past him. This incident occurred in the heart of Sydney, where support services are sounding alarms about the potential for more deaths among the homeless as winter approaches.

Among these vulnerable individuals are women who have escaped arranged marriages and international students who, consumed by shame, feel unable to reach out for help. One such individual is Bikram Lama, a former international student from Nepal, whose death outside St James train station has drawn attention to the often-hidden plight of those living on the streets of Australia.

Many of these homeless individuals lack citizenship and do not hold permanent residency, leaving them trapped in Australia, unable to return to their home countries or caught in the limbo of temporary visas, awaiting a decision on their future.

Another Nepalese woman, Shree, shared her story of being “tricked and coerced” into coming to Australia for an arranged marriage. She recounted her experience of being pressured by her family into accepting the marriage proposal from a Nepalese man living in Australia, despite her repeated refusals.

After succumbing to family pressure and marrying, Shree quickly found herself in an abusive relationship. Within two weeks, her husband began to exhibit both physical and emotional abuse. Living with his extended family in Australia, she felt increasingly trapped and controlled.

Shree described how her husband’s mother would frequently remind her that the only reason her son married her was because of her age and potential to bear children. She was not permitted to leave the house without permission and did not even have access to her own bank account.

Following the birth of her child, Shree’s isolation deepened. She faced mental health challenges, exacerbated by taunts from her husband’s family that she was “mentally ill” and should end her life. After being threatened with divorce and the cancellation of her visa, her husband followed through, leaving her homeless and in a state of uncertainty as the divorce proceedings continue.

Shree has managed to find temporary crisis accommodation through the Women & Girls Emergency Centre (WAGEC), a service dedicated to aiding women affected by domestic violence and homelessness. According to CEO Nicole Yates, nearly half of the women in their refuges are non-residents, highlighting the severe need for support.

The process for women like Shree is complicated. If a partner-sponsored visa is canceled due to domestic violence, they become ineligible for social services, including Medicare and Centrelink. Many express a desire to return to their home countries, but are often prevented from leaving with their children due to their partners’ opposition.

Shree’s ex-husband and their daughter hold Australian citizenship, and she has applied for a partner visa with domestic violence provisions, which would grant her permanent residency independent of him. However, the processing time for such visas can exceed 17 months, leaving her in a precarious situation with limited rights and resources.

Shree’s inability to work or access childcare support while she waits for her visa places her at greater risk of homelessness. She acknowledges that without the refuge, she would likely be living on the streets, facing dire consequences.

Meanwhile, Bikram’s family sacrificed a portion of their farmland to finance his education in Australia, hoping for better opportunities for him. However, over the years, he struggled with the rising costs of living and eventually lost contact with them. His death went unnoticed until the Nepali embassy reached out to his family, revealing the tragic circumstances of his life on the streets.

Nearby, the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Matthew Talbot Hostel provides shelter for homeless men, but the rising costs of tuition for international students and the overall cost of living in Australia have intensified the challenges faced by those in similar situations.