Homeless Persons Week 2009

HOMELESS PERSONS' WEEK 2009

On behalf of the Homeless Persons' Week Working Group we wish to thank all our sponsors, participants, the media and the general public for your kind support. The Launch and the inaugural Walk to support the homeless were well supported. We have received positive feedback from the service providers dealing with the homeless.

We also wish to thank the Hon Robyn McSweeny (MLC), Minister for Child Protection, Community Services, Seniors, Volunteering and Women Affairs for joining us during the Walk.

ABC 720 Perth Local Radio WA had a succesful campaign to raise awareness for the homeless. The Drop your Jocks Campaign was held during the Week in the Perth Metropolitan Area as, well as as in rest of WA. We would like to thank the ABC and its listeners for collecting new underwear and toiletries for the homeless.

We also would like to thank Sonshine FM and their listeners for collecting more than 230 sleeping bags. These donations are being sorted and will be made available to service providers dealing with the homeless.

Finally we wish to thank Marija Jelavic, our events organiser, for the very professional way she arranged the Launch and the Walk. We also like to recognise Gina Church our media consultant for all the media coverage that the Week received.

This Year’s Theme?
“WHERE DO THEY GO?” is a clarion call to all that we need to find sustainable solutions to deal with the problem.

The latest statistics from Counting the Homeless show 13,391 people in WA were homeless on Census Night 2006, compared with 104,676 nationally. WA’s homelessness rate is 68 people per 10,000 population.

The statistics reinforce the relevance of Homeless Persons’ Week, the aim of which is to:
1) Raise awareness of homelessness in the community
2) Celebrate and acknowledge current services being offered to homeless people
3) Foster collaboration of services working with homeless people
4) Attract more volunteers and financial support into the sector

Calendar of Events

Corporate Support

1. Reclink and the Big Issue are organising recreational activities.

2. Peter Cullen, the National Development Manager of Reclink, will also address the public and present his book on homelessness.

3. Foodbank will give food preparation demonstrations. Other participants include The Street Doctor, Ruah, Access Housing, 55Central and St Bartholomew’s House.

4. Messages On Hold is sponsoring the Walk to Support the Homeless on Saturday, August 8, in the Perth CBD. We invite you to come and show your support for the homeless and take part in this symbolic walk which starts at 12noon in Forrest place. SonhineFM is running a campaing to raise awareness for the Homeless and is collecting sleeping bags. We would like to invite all to come and participate in the Walk. For more information about the Walk to Support, click here

The Walk will start and finish at Forrest Place - turning left into William Street, left into Hay Street, left into Barrack Street and left again into Murray Street.

5. After last year’s success, the ABC will again run its ‘Drop Your Jocks’ campaign. It will also have an Outside Broadcasting Unit at the launch. For more information please click here .

Get Involved. Spirtual reflection flyer

We would like to thank everyone that participated in the very successful Launch on Monday, August 3, in Forrest Place.Photos of the event will be posted on the website in the next few days. 28 Community Housing Providers showcased their work.

Please email Policy Officer Gerhard Rousseau if you would like to become involved at policy@communityhousing.com.au or Marija Jelavic on (08) 9328 8996, mobile 0419 993 789 or email marijajelavic@optusnet.com.au

Calendar of Events http://www.communityhousing.com.au/training-and-events/hpw-calender/

Reclink http://www.reclink.org/

Big Issue http://www.bigissue.org.au/

Foodbank http://perthfoodbank.com/

The Street Doctor http://www.gpcoastal.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=7626

Ruah http://www.ruah.com.au/

Access Housing http://www.accesshousing.org.au/

55 Central http://www.55central.asn.au/html/index.html

St Bartholomew’s House http://www.stbarts.org.au/

Messages On Hold http://www.messagesonhold.com.au/

ABC http://www.abc.net.au/

The Big Picture Factory prepared a photo exhibition especially for the Launch portraying Homelessness. Please visit their website to view the Images of the Street exhibition.

www.thebigpicturefactory.com.au