Source : PortMac.News | Citizen :
Source : PortMac.News | Citizen | News Story:
News Story Summary:
In a bid to to fix our housing crisis, Port Macquarie Hastings Council is pleading with property owners, to make big changes.
Taking a Stand for the Homeless:
Homelessness has become a part of the fabric of cities, and in spite of it staring straight at us, we have not found an effective way to tackle the situation.
While homelessness is a complex issue that cannot be tackled with an easy one-size-fits-all solution, there is still much that can be done to help ease the situation and condition of the homeless.
The Port Macquarie-Hastings Homeless Committee iwas established for this very purpose and it has been organising a series of events to raise funds and build awareness of the situation of homelessness in the Hastings area.
Housing shortages have increased over the past few years and homelessness is the worrying consequence of this.
With homelessness on the rise across the Hastings, three in every four people using homelessness services are women and children. Many of them are fleeing family violence.
A Safe Space for the Homeless:
The main aim of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Homeless Committee is to raise money to provide lockers in Port Macquarie for rough sleepers in the Hastings.
Its long-term goal is to create a ‘drop-in centre’ in Port Macquarie.
This will be a place where people without a home can come and take a shower and wash their clothes.
What many take for granted as a norm, being cleaning and doing the laundry can be a luxury that can help to lift one's mood, give some dignity to life and simply feel like a human.
This "drop-in centre" will also have services and facilities such as a lounge room for the homeless to safely be in and have access to TV to watch a midday movie or just sit and connect with others.
Funds from the Port Macquarie-Hastings Homeless Committee are also being used to supply weekly breakfasts at Kooloonbung Creek.
Not having a home is gruelling on the spirits - to have a place to go to for some warm food to start the day brings that bit of hope to those who have to survive in the streets.
The Port Macquarie-Hastings Homeless Committee aims to find enduring solutions for those who are at risk of, or already experiencing, homelessness.
Their events are designed to raise awareness of the issue in the community while providing a collection point for life-saving goods and donations to improve the situation of those who experience homelessness.
Following Up on the Homeless
The Port Macquarie-Hastings Homeless Committee also takes a very proactive approach and gets right into the heart of homelessness by engaging with the homeless, providing them with basic necessities and listening to their experiences.
More At | facebook.com/ PortMacquarieHomelessness
Video By | Jemma Pepper