The Northern Rivers Times Edition 108

HELPING OUR HOMELESS

KINDNESS WALL: A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO HELP THE HOMELESS THIS WINTER

Momentum Collective officially launched its first ever Australian Kindness Wall in Tweed Heads. The Kindness Wall is a meaningful and sustainable project where community members can donate jackets or blankets to the people who need them the most. With homelessness being more prevalent than ever, more than 116,000 Australians are experiencing homelessness on any given night. Of those people, around 8,200 ‘sleep rough’ in improvised dwellings, tents, or outdoors. Despite only having 4% of the NSW population, the Northern Rivers is home to 20% of NSW rough sleepers. Not having a safe and stable place to call home is the stark reality for many people living in Australia. Momentum Collective’s Caseworker, Gail, witnesses firsthand how homelessness impacts her clients.

“When clients of our Specialist Homelessness Service first come to us, they feel a mix of many emotions. Some feel frightened, angry, emotional, and some fear their little children will be removed from them as they have nowhere to go.” “The statistics are quite alarming. In the last couple of years, we have seen an increase of 27% of homelessness in the Northern Rivers, and 39% being homeless for the first time”, said Gail. Dr Nola Firth, Tweed Shire Councillor, believes the whole community has a shared responsibility in tackling homelessness and caring for each other and the environment. “An extremely high amount of clothes go to landfill each year, contributing to our environmental crisis. Momentum’s Kindness Wall promotes a positive message of recycling clothes you no longer need and the idea of

giving back to the vulnerable people who need our support”. Marketing Communications

Manager, Cassia Cruz, came up with the idea after brainstorming ways to support homeless people in the

freezing temperatures experienced this winter. “Momentum’s Kindness Wall is a great opportunity for everyone to help those in need and give back to their community,” Ms Cruz said. “It’s easy, simple and quick. Those who need a jacket can take one, and those who want to donate can leave one. These donated items are handy during the colder seasons as our vulnerable community struggle to stay warm and safe.” “We want to empower those who would like to help. The idea is to enable community members to look after the wall with kindness, and instead of throwing out what you don’t need, you can give it to someone who may need it.” The Kindness Wall is located outside the Momentum Collective’s Head Office at 35 Wharf Street.