A GROUP of rough sleepers in Wentworth Park will soon lose what little belongings they have, after being told to pack up and remove them by City of Sydney.

Around 20 rough sleepers have until the end of February to pack up their tents, furniture, hazardous materials and other items before the belongings are forcibly removed.

The City’s move comes after public complaints about their impact on the area.

Despite adversity and hardships, some of Sydney’s most vulnerable homeless people have banded together and set up homes under the park’s viaduct.

media_camera The viaducts where up to 20-homeless individuals have set up refuge in Wentworth Park

From brightly coloured tents, plush rugs, a refrigerator and even wind vanes, they have done their best to create a home under the circumstances.

At 67, Jimmy has lived in the country for 45 years, raised his children and seen the birth of grandchildren but now he faces the prospect of losing what little he had left.

“I have lived like this for seven months, and I have tried to find more work and a home,” he said.

“I am a pensioner. How would you feel if you worked hard your whole life, raised a family, paid your taxes and looked forward to retirement only to end up spending your remaining days living like this.

media_camera Jimmy is devastated at the prospect of having to give up his tent.

“We have been told if we don’t clear our stuff out the city and the police will take it away. It is wrong, this is my stuff, it’s all I have.”

Chris Horton has been living in Wentworth Park for more than five months and said living on the street was a demeaning lifestyle.

“When you tell somebody you are homeless there are three things that come into their head: junkie, alcoholic or gambler,” he said.

“You are categorised as soon as you meet somebody, it’s a horrible feeling. I am just doing the best I can.

media_camera The tent underneath the Wentworth Park viaduct which Janet calls home will soon be removed leaving her exposed to the elements

“Everyone takes care of each other down here, but living like this is degrading.

“It is really hard to even try and keep your clothes clean, usually everything is covered in dust.”

Mr Horton said he was in constant fear while living on Sydney’s streets.

“Safety is the biggest concern for me. Before I came to Wentworth Park I never truly slept, I always had to be half alert and I was on edge all the time,” he said.

The facts Chris Horton and Jimmy, along with other homeless in the park, are making ongoing efforts to prevent their presence disrupting normal activities of Wentworth Park. They have confined their location to underneath Wentworth Park’s viaducts. The City of Sydney says that under the Local Government Act 1993, ongoing occupation of Wentworth Park, with its accompanying structures and materials, is determined to be a public nuisance. This is due to the risk to health and safety of the public and the public impediment to using Wentworth Park’s facilities.

Last week Central reported on several rough sleepers who had pitched tents in Belmore Park, forming a miniature shanty town.

A City of Sydney spokesman said the council was working on the best outcome for everyone.

“Following complaints last year about deliberately lit fires and unauthorised camping at Wentworth Park, the City issued warnings to a group of rough sleepers about keeping the area tidy,” the spokesman said.

“There are also reports some rough sleepers are lighting fires and cooking ­inside the tents.

“City staff, along with specialist homeless-service workers, met with the rough sleepers to negotiate a solution to the issue and the fire risk, with the outcome being that each person would limit their belongings to bedding and two bags.

media_camera Wentworth Park’s homeless individuals are desperately seeking more permanent accommodation

“The City is also working with the rough sleepers to connect them with the appropriate services and look at ways they can access accommodation.

“The City has committed $4.2 million over the next three years to help fund ­outreach services, support for young people, and ­Connect 100, which will provide housing for people experiencing homelessness in the inner city.

“The City supports the NSW Government’s Protocol for People in Public Places, which promotes the rights of people who are experiencing homelessness to access public spaces without the risk of discrimination,” the spokesman said.