AN homelessness awareness day will put a spotlight on an unseen issue happening across the city.
Pathfinders Armidale Youth Homelessness Service manager Trish Thomas said the day was part of national homelessness prevention week.
Homelessness does take place in our community.
- Armidale Youth Homelessness Service manager Trish Thomas
“It is designed to raise awareness that homelessness does take place in our community,” Ms Thomas said.
“We want to create a relaxed environment for those who might need our services.
“They can come in, sit down, have a cup of tea, have a meal in the warmth.
“It’s an easy way to showcase the services.”
The Armidale Homeless Awareness Day will include meals, stalls and presentations from young people, services and individuals sleeping rough.
“Our brief is to help those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness so people just on the cusp,” Ms Thomas said.
“It’s about bringing services and the private sector together in one place.
“It can be really hard for people to come forward and ask for help when they are in those desperate circumstances so it’s a day to celebrate their courage and resilience.”
The city has three homelessness services which includes Pathfinders Amridale Youth Homelessness Service, Freeman House and Women’s Homelessness Service.
Ms Thomas said the day would break down ignorance of an unseen issue in the district.
“Homelessness can be spoken about but when you put a face with people coming along and telling their stories, it makes it quite real,” Ms Thomas said.
“People don’t know what homelessness means because if if you don’t understand, it can seem quite scary.
“They are everyday people in our community who at any point can be homeless and sleeping in the park.”
The free Homeless Awareness Day will be held on August 2 from 10am at Armidale Town Hall.
For information about the awareness day, contact Bec Benson at RichmondPRA on 0411 711 695.
