With more than 8,000 South Aussies sleeping rough – and that number rapidly rising due to the cost-of-living crisis – the stakes have never been higher. And St Vincent De Paul are calling on your help.
As the cold weather sets in, and the number of people without access to the basic essentials sky rockets, Vinnies has launched an appeal to help provide the gift of a night’s accommodation in one of their crisis centres, to those doing it tough.
With your help, they will provide a warm bed, hot meal, and clean clothes to a person experiencing homelessness this Winter.
They urgently need to provide 1,298 nights of accommodation for people struggling on our streets, and you can help from just $34.
Vinnies CEO, Evelyn O’Loughlin, said that while the most recent Census data shows that 7,500 South Australians experience homelessness each night, from what the charity organisation is hearing now, she feels that figure is just the tip of the iceberg.
“The data was collected almost two years ago and I think we can all agree that things have become much tougher since then. Inflation, rental increases, the cost-of-living crisis, and a lack of affordable housing are just some of the factors that are pushing more and more people to the brink of homelessness. Some people still haven’t recovered financially from Covid interruptions,” she said.
“We are hearing from a growing number of people who have never had to reach out to a charity for help before, and who don’t fit society’s view of who would typically become homeless. People who are employed, and younger people who simply can’t make ends meet are an emerging group requiring our help. A 10% increase in the number of women experiencing homelessness is also very alarming.”
At last month’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout, where business and community leaders slept out to raise funds and awareness about homelessness, the commentary from most participants was how lucky they felt to sleep out for just one night, with most unable to process how they would cope doing it night after night with no reprieve in sight.
“Our Gift A Night appeal is a tangible way people can make a real difference to those who are sleeping rough. A warm bed, nutritious meal and clean clothes is a start, but more importantly, long-term change can begin with one night off the streets.”
As the weather gets colder, sleeping on the streets is a real struggle. We need to support them to show them they’re not done.
To donate, Click here.
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