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Fund raising hike to help reduce homelessness
by Bill Poulos 11 March 2014
A
fund-raising hike between towns and villages aimed at helping reduce homelessness – and raise awareness of an escalating problem – is expected to draw hundreds of participants from across the north-west and New England regions. Moree’s Byamee Homeless Persons Support Team, headed up
Micah Projects Street to Home team with the locals in West End.
by manager Leigh Smith, will join forces with similar organisations from across the north-west to coordinate the mammoth 690km Hike for Homeless in August. The potentially huge event, with well-known country music performer and entertainer Victoria Edwards signed up as ambassador, will be held during Homeless Persons’ Week and coincide with a similar trek being undertaken by
On Track community programs and north-coast organisations. Mr Smith said the hike, themed Open Doors, will offer varying levels of sponsorship as well as incorporate fund-raising campaigns. It is hoped that a $250,000 target will be reached between August 3 and 10. “Organisations from each town will host different events and stalls that will be focused on raising
National NAIDOC Poster Competition and nominations for the National NAIDOC Awards are now open. Forms are available online at www.naidoc.org.au or at your nearest Indigenous Coordination Centre. Poster competition entries close Friday 28 March. Award nominations close Wednesday 23 April.
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money as well as raising awareness of a growing problem that is Australia-wide,” Mr Smith said. “We need to create awareness around the issues which can cause homelessness and to promote the new Specialist Homeless Services system which will begin on July 1. “We also need to raise funds for programs that aim to prevent homelessness and therefore reduce both the financial and social costs of homelessness,” he said. Mr Smith said the hike’s theme, Open Doors, relates to opening up opportunities for people to improve personal situations and deal with the issues faced. “It stretches beyond just homelessness because the issues and causes of homelessness can affect anyone,” he said. “They range from unemployment, education, domestic and family violence, mental health and a lack of affordable housing, just to name a few. “This event will also touch on the National Homeless Persons’ Week’s Cost of Homelessness
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theme – including the costs on society, the costs on State and federal governments and the cost to individuals who are homeless.” Hike for Homeless will start in Moree on Sunday, August 3 and during Homeless Persons’ Week will trek through Narrabri, Gunnedah, Tamworth, Armidale, Glen Innes and Inverell. It will finish at Moree on Sunday, August 10. “The logistics for this type of event are huge,” Mr Smith said. “We plan to have eight-hour shifts for runners with about four runners per shift as well as escort vehicles.” The New England and northwest hike will start and finish in Moree while the north-coast hike will start at the Tweed and take in Mullumbimby, Lismore, Casino, Grafton, Yamba and Ballina. “Our ambassador Victoria Edwards will perform at each of the New England and north-west events and there will be opportunities for likewise events for the north-coast region,’ Mr Smith said.
It is estimated that nearly 30,000 people in NSW are classed as homeless, with at least seven percent “sleeping rough”. Specialised supported accommodation for the homeless accounts for nearly 20 percent, while the remainder is made up of boarding houses, overcrowded dwellings and those staying within other households belonging to either family members or friends. “There are many people who are moving from household to household to the point where they really have no place that they can call home,” Mr Smith said. Mr Smith said Hike for Homeless went online through social media sites on March 1 and a webpage will be launched on April 1. “We will also advertise the event heavily over the coming months through print media and radio,” he said. “There are various tiers of sponsorship available and taxdeductible donations can also be made.”