In Australia over 116,000 people experience homelessness on any given night.
Homelessness Week, August 1 – 7, aims to raise awareness of the impacts of homelessness on individuals and communities, including the effects on mental health, education, employment, and safety.
Roseberry Qld General Manager Michelle Coats said while there was no one definition of homelessness, access to safe and secure housing was one of the most basic human rights.
“Homelessness is not just about housing though, it is fundamentally about a lack of connectedness with family, friends and the community, and a lack of control over one’s environment,” she said.
Roseberry Qld, which provides a range of housing services, is hosting an event, Gladstone Homeless Connect, on August 3 to connect people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with government and community support.
“Our aim is to bring together services providers from the government and community sector to create a ‘one stop’ shop for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness,” Michelle said.
“At the event we are also launching concept plans for our Shelteristic Project, a community-led plan for addressing the dramatic increase in youth homelessness we have seen in Central Queensland over the past five years.”
Michelle said anyone wanting to stay connected with homelessness issues, and learn ways in which they can make a difference, should connect with the Gladstone Homeless Connect Facebook Page.
“Homelessness is a complex issue, with a number of causes including financial pressures and a lack of affordable housing,” she said.
“Everyone, including government, not-for-profit organisations and the wider community, needs to be involved in the conversation to work together towards a sustainable solution.”
Homelessness Australia is holding a virtual event on August 2 for Homelessness Week.
Equity Economics Lead Economist Dr Angela Jackson will talk about her report, commissioned by Everybody’s Home, on the benefits of providing long-term social housing to women who have experienced domestic and family violence.
This will be followed by a panel discussion with Shadow Housing and Homelessness Minister Jason Clare, Greens Spokesperson on Housing and Homelessness Senator Mehreen Faruqi and Everybody’s Home Spokesperson Kate Colvin.
Register for the online event at www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au.
Housing Ends Homelessness
What: Gladstone Homeless Connect brings together service providers from the government and community sectors to create a one-stop-shop for people in the Gladstone Region who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or require assistance in maintaining and sustaining tenancies.
When: August 3
Time: 10am – 2pm
Where: Roseberry Dignity Hub (20 Rollo Street, Gladstone)
For more: contact Jacinda or Chloe on 4972 5383
Where to get help
– Homeless Hotline (free call): 1800 474 753
– Roseberry Qld: 4972 0047
– St Vincent de Paul Society Cornerstone Program: 0427 071 340
– Anglicare – Central Queensland: 4837 5300
– Salvation Army Family Welfare Centre: 4972 6878
– DVConnect: 1800 811 811
– Men’s Line: 1800 600 636
– AskIzzy (www.askizzy.org.au) can assist you to search for nearby shelters, housing, food, health care and homeless information.