Every day, Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn receives 130 calls from people seeking help with housing, food, and other essentials.
“Behind every one of those calls is a person, a family or a household doing their best but finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with rising housing and living costs,” CEO Lucy Hohnen said.
More people are reaching out for support for the first time, including working families, dual-income households, older women, young people, and people escaping family violence.
“These are people who have always managed, worked hard and never imagined they would need support from a charity,” Ms Hohnen said.
More people need support for longer, and many households return for assistance, due to housing and cost-of-living pressures.
Homelessness is not always visible, Ms Hohnen said. Many people are sleeping in cars, couch surfing, living in overcrowded homes, or moving between temporary accommodation because they have nowhere else to go.
“Nobody expects to find themselves at risk of homelessness, but we know it can happen more quickly than many people realise,” Ms Hohnen said. “A rent increase, illness, family breakdown or unexpected bill can be enough to tip someone into crisis.”
Over the past year, Vinnies has responded to more than 19,400 emergency relief requests. Its Street to Home program, which helps chronically homeless people access housing and healthcare services, supported 83 people. Samaritan House, a 13-bed crisis accommodation service, lodged 79 men. Its Family Services program assisted 297 people.
“At Vinnies, we walk alongside people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, providing practical assistance, support and connection when it’s needed most,” Ms Hohnen said.
“Our goal is not only to help people through an immediate crisis, but to support them on the pathway to secure housing, wellbeing and connection.
“Through programs like Street to Home, Samaritan House and our emergency relief services, Vinnies works alongside people to help them find safety, stability and hope for the future.”
The public can support Vinnies by donating to the Gift a Night Off the Streets Appeal, an initiative to provide a warm bed, hot meal, and clean clothes to homeless people. Vinnies wants to raise $144,107 to provide 2,179 nights of emergency accommodation.
“Through the Gift a Night Off the Streets Appeal, our community can help ensure people receive practical support when they need it most and know they are not facing these challenges alone,” Ms Hohnen said.
The public can also help Vinnies by volunteering their time and skills; donating quality goods to Vinnies Shops and Goodies Junction; learning more about the realities of homelessness and challenging common misconceptions; and advocating for more affordable and accessible housing options.
Find out more at https://www.vinnies.org.au/act-surrounds/get-involved/volunteering-act-surrounds.
