BUSINESS owners are concerned about safety, property damage and dwindling foot traffic they say is due to rough sleepers on Beaumont Street.
According to the business owners, not enough is being done to ensure Hamilton's high street remains a thriving commercial centre and people experiencing homelessness are afforded a safe place to sleep.
Clocktower Cafe and Raj's Corner owner Lovkesh Asija said an increase rough sleepers is driving customers away from Hamilton.
"No one wants to come to my shop," he said.
Mr Asija said he has been abused while trying to move individuals on and said he has found syringes scattered around the James Street plaza.
"It is a very big issue at the moment," he said.
Robert Burton has owned the Beaumont Street Newsagency for almost 16 years and said he believes the local rough sleepers are indicative of a wider problem.
Mr Burton said a lot of his customers, many who are elderly, have felt intimidated.
"It's quite confronting for them, they [rough sleepers] hang around near the teller machines at the banks and put the hard word on there," he said.
"The police have been involved, outreach have been involved, council has been involved.
"It's a problem that I'm sure isn't just here on Beaumont Street, pretty sure it's everywhere."
The Newcastle Assertive Outreach Team patrols the city every day to engage with community, local businesses and anyone who is sleeping rough.
The team frequently patrols Hamilton with a particular focus on Awaba Park.
From January 1 to July 12, the team undertook 109 patrols and engaged with nine people, three of which were Homes NSW tenants who were in the area for social connection, two who declined assistance and four who were given temporary accommodation.
Rough sleepers are also assigned a caseworker and linked with other support services.
Churchills Carpet Court owner Paul Murphy said the issue needs to be addressed by the right people.
"I think it's council's responsibility to protect, show an interest in the business ratepayers in the CBD of Hamilton and work out a process to ensure that these sort of things don't continue," he said.
"Nobody's done anything about it for a couple of months and it has become more pronounced now than what it was previously.
"You don't like to see anybody in these positions, we've got to show that we have empathy for the situation but at the same time council have got to recognise that the people who are trying to trade have got to have some sort of protection."
Newcastle Liberal Cr Jenny Barrie said she has been approached by a number of Beaumont Street business owners who want to find a solution.
"There's got to be a balance, the right balance between cleaner streets, business thriving and not having to physically disrupt these people who are just trying to get a good night's sleep to feel safe where there's street lighting to protect them," she said.
"The cost of living is biting too, people can't afford a motel room so they sleep on the street.
"My constituents are getting upset that there isn't enough being done to help the homeless, but not only that, to clean the streets, fix the footpaths and make it a thriving business community."
The state government has a protocol for people experiencing homelessness in public places.
People who are homeless have the right to be in public places, participate in public activities or events, carry and manage their own belongings and request or decline help.
The protocol was developed to guide governments, non-government organisations and private businesses to interact and engage with people experiencing homelessness so they are treated respectfully, with dignity, and do not face discrimination.
A City of Newcastle spokeswoman said it is working with state government agencies, including the Department of Communities and Justice, to achieve a positive outcome with regards to housing and homelessness.
"The Assertive Outreach Team routinely visits Hamilton to engage with the individuals on Beaumont Street and provide information resources about support available," she said.
"City of Newcastle has no jurisdiction to formally move people on from public spaces and respects the rights of all people, including those experiencing homelessness."
Anyone who is experiencing or is at-risk of homelessness can contact Link2Home on 1800 152 153.
Women and children escaping domestic and family violence can also call the Domestic Violence line on 1800 656 463.
