To help promote Homeless Persons Prevention Week, Wollongong City Council is supporting the Wollongong Homeless Hub with a Giving Tree.
Wollongong City Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery OAM has asked all citizens to consider providing a small gift or donation for the Homeless Hub.
“The Wollongong Homeless Hub is seeking gifts, especially toiletries, as well as aiming to raise $1000 to buy 10 swags which will allow homeless people who are sleeping rough to enjoy a better night’s sleep.”
The Hub is asking for toiletries that are either travel-sized, for people to take with them, or larger bottles of body wash and shampoo that can be left in the Hub’s showers.
The swags will provide overnight shelter for people who are sleeping rough.
About one in 200 people in Australia are homeless on any given night.
There are more than 17,800 people under 12 years of age who are homeless and 10,900 people aged between 12 and 18 years who are homeless.
Mayor Bradbery said input from community members, if only small, can help.
“To help address these awful statistics I ask all community members to bring in a small donation for the Giving Tree, which is placed in Council’s Customer Service area at the Administration Building at 41 Burelli Street.
“If you are bring in a donation of money you can speak to our Cashier at Customer Service.”
Homeless Persons Prevention Week runs from 3 to 9 August. Visit Homelessness Australia for more details.