Couch surfing or homeless? Homeless shelter says we’re sugar coating Australia’s homeless issue

Couch surfing or homeless? Homeless shelter says we’re sugar coating Australia’s homeless issue

Winter for the more than 116,000* Australians living homeless often means the rough conditions they are living in are about to become rougher, but one homeless charity says this number is likely a lot higher with a growing number of people unaware they are affected by homelessness and glossing over the issue.

 

Jason Loakes of Sheltered By Grace says it’s time Australians stop assuming they will not be touched by homelessness and look closely at friends and family who are ‘couch surfing’ or ‘crashing at a mates’.

 

“When people think of the homeless they think of the stereotypical person dressed in rags suffering from mental health or substance abuse problems, but the reality is we have sugar coated what it actually means to be homeless resulting in an unknown number of Australians who are homeless and don’t think they fit the definition,” he said.

 

“Everyone knows a friend or a relative who is ‘couch surfing’ or ‘crashing at a mates’ and they aren’t really considered to be homeless but in actual fact, with no fixed address, they are.”

 

Since late 2015, Sheltered By Grace has helped more than 400 homeless men and women to restore dignity and independence by addressing not just the need for accommodation, but providing support from doctors, psychiatrists, personal trainers, nutritionists and drug and alcohol counsellors.

 

Recently Sheltered By Grace was one of ten recipients from a field of 800 to receive a grant through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund which will allow for the organisation to expand its operations and help many more people who are homeless or facing the prospect of becoming homeless.

 

Mr Loakes said they are honoured to receive the grant but understand the reality is while this will help some of the people coming to them for support, this grant will only be able to help a handful of the thousands who are homeless.

 

“We are very appreciative of the support from the Queensland Government and this grant will go towards increasing our capabilities helping those affected by homelessness, but we do need the continual support of the community to help address the issue further into the future,” Mr Loakes said.

 

“Like most charity groups, we are reliant on the donations from the public and in-kind support from the business community, a simple $40 donation a month means someone who is facing the dangers of homelessness can come in and stay with us in a safe supportive environment” he said.

 

“We want to break the stigma associated with homelessness and are urging everyone to rethink how they view the issue; this can be as simple as checking in on someone at risk or even donating as little as $40 to allow someone a night off the street.”

 

Sheltered By Grace is eager to receive support from the South East Queensland business community to help bring to life a two storey building that will dramatically increase the number of beds they can offer as well as an increase in the additional support services they offer.

 

Sheltered By Grace is a not for profit organisation that provides 24 hour accommodation and support for domestic violence, mental health issues, physical disability and drug and alcohol dependency for men and women experiencing homelessness.

 

For more information about Sheltered By Grace visit – www.sbg.org.au

or www.facebook.com/ShelteredByGrace/

 

ENDS

 

Mark Smith

House of Publics, Principal Consultant

Mark.smith@houseofpublics.com.au

+61 421 417 925