Monday 23 July 2012
Are you brave enough to spend a night out in the cold and sleep out? There are over 10,000 people across Australia who are sleeping rough on any one single night. This is a huge number and can be due to a diverse range of reasons.
According to the latest information on homelessness released recently by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), 18,574 people on average, were accommodated by specialist homelessness agencies on any given night from October to December 2011.
This includes people who were accommodated in crisis or emergency accommodation, as well as medium-term and long-term accommodation provided to people who were homeless or at risk of homelessness when they sought assistance.
The national rate of Australians accessing homelessness services in the December quarter was 44 in every 10,000 people. With most people (69%) seeking emergency accommodation on their own with the remainder presenting in groups, such as families with children.
Locally one Mid North Coast accommodation service assisted with approximately 400 person’s requests for crisis accommodation in the 11/12 financial year. The service recorded 1431 contacts with those adults and families within the above period to assist with or prevent homelessness.
Three Million Nights Needed
There are 1300 homeless assistance services across Australia. Each year the homeless service system provides almost 3 million nights of accommodation. Homeless assistance services provide crisis and longer-term accommodation, assistance with living skills and financial management, counselling and advocacy.
To raise awareness of this important issue within the Manning area a sleep out is being organised on 9 August in the Greater Taree City Council Carpark.
The event will also be an opportunity to raise much needed funds for the Manning Community Connect Day which is an annual event held at the Taree PCYC. The annual event connects people experiencing homelessness and people at risk of homelessness with accommodation, health, employment and other vital community services, all under the one roof.
Organisers are looking for people to take up the challenge. You may wish to take up the challenge yourself or you could nominate your boss, your mum, anyone who you think will take up the challenge to help raise money to support those in the community who don’t know where they will sleep tonight.
Council GM Sleeping Out
General Manager of GTCC, Gerard Jose has taken up the challenge and will be sleeping out on 9 August “With the rising cost of living many people are having to face the issue of homelessness and I think this event is an important opportunity to build awareness of homelessness among the community. It would be great to see more local business people and taking up the challenge”
Sleepers must raise a minimum of $50 in order to have the ‘privilege’ to sleep out. If you know someone who is sleeping out, get behind them and donate money towards this important issue.
The sleep out kicks off at 5pm, with outdoor movies, live music, share a light BBQ dinner and then sleep out, with a light breakfast, to conclude at 7am Friday in Fotheringham Park.
To register please download a registration form and email to gtaree@gtcc.nsw.gov.au
Contact Sarah Wilkinson on (02) 6592 5339 for more information.
Media Enquiries to David Shepard.