Dig deep for refuge
Plea for homeless support at Anti-Poverty Week launch
TASMANIANS are being asked to dig deep for the proposal for a night-time drop-in refuge for the homeless after a slow start to fundraising.
It was revealed last week The Salvation Army and Hobart City Mission have joined forces on a proposal called the Safe Night Space.
It would be a place in central Hobart where men and women who are vulnerable, isolated and homeless could drop in for rest, food and water overnight.
Staff and volunteers would help connect people with housing, mental health, and drug and alcohol services.
About $450,000 is needed to run the six-month pilot program, but just $62,000 has been raised so far.
Hobart City Mission chief executive officer John Stubley said he was surprised by the slow start, but thanked those who had already contributed.
“We’ve been hearing for some time from the community about how they can help and this is the perfect opportunity,” he said.
“I think maybe people assume that the donations are coming in, but we need people to act now and help us raise this money to launch the program next month.”
Meanwhile, Anti-Poverty Week was launched yesterday with local singer-songwriter Iza McInnes, 16, sharing her story of being born into poverty to a single mum of five.
“There were some good times when we’d be living in a house with hot water and a fireplace and then there were bad times when we were living in tents for months and eating sloppy spaghetti with tomato paste for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” she said.
“Right before my 14th birthday I left home, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I spent months couch surfing and probably burdening all of my friends. I have anxiety and I didn’t think it was right to eat their food so most of the time I went hungry.”
Ms McInnes said with the help of supported accommodation service Mara House she was back on her feet. “I’m one of the lucky ones,” she said.
This year’s Anti-Poverty Week focus is on the Raise the Rate campaign, calling for a $75-a-week increase to the federal Newstart allowance.