Kim O’KEEFFE (Shepparton) (15:30): Last Friday I attended the Shepparton Salvos’ fourth annual Walking Home event to increase awareness and reduce the stigma of homelessness. I joined the community and walked together alongside representatives from youth services and homeless services. It was also great to see so many students participate. A care day was also held during the week which provided free haircuts, beard trims, dental checks, mental health check-ins and a community nurse providing general health checks for people experiencing homelessness. These connections build conversations and the opportunity to build and find out about the person’s circumstances and where they can be supported and assisted. We are seeing an alarming rise in homelessness from people sleeping in tents or in cars, and the reality of homelessness is becoming so much more visible, with more and more people sleeping rough on our streets. I want to acknowledge the many homelessness service providers and also Scott and his team at Shepparton Salvation Army, who do an amazing job, and Salvation Army youth participation worker Jim and his team who support youth homelessness. We cannot keep going in the same direction with more and more people becoming homeless. We must prioritise more housing support and support those that need us most. It is a human right to have the dignity of a roof over your head and a safe place to call home.
Category: Speeches
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