Free food, haircuts and assistance for those sleeping rough or struggling financially

People who are sleeping rough or struggling financially will have the opportunity to seek help and access an array of support services as part of the 10^th annual Reconnect Event on Thursday.

Held each year during Homelessness Week (August 1-7), Reconnect gives an opportunity for those who are struggling to connect with others in the community and receive assistance if needed.

More than 20 health professionals, private businesses, and government and community organisations will gather at The Breakfast Club in Redcliffe on Thursday morning, where they will be providing free haircuts, clothing, blankets, immunisations, hot food and beverages, food hampers and mindfulness activities.

A number of people will also be on hand to help with information and referrals for members of the community feeling the impact of homelessness or housing and tenancy pressure.

The event is hosted by the Moreton Bay Housing and Homelessness Network.

Encircle Homestay Senior Case Manager and committee member of The Moreton Bay Housing and Homelessness Network, Rose Butler, says the event is open to anyone looking for support with housing and homelessness.

“The impact of COVID, housing shortages, domestic and family violence, and the overall economic environment has created housing vulnerability for many local individuals and families,” Rose says.

“From our most marginalised members of the community living rough, to those newly exposed to the housing crisis, we expect to support hundreds of community members at Reconnect.”

Reconnect will be officially opened by Member for Redcliffe Yvette D’Ath, with official guests also including David Murrin Area Manager, Moreton Bay Housing Service Centre at Department of Housing and Public Works.

Details

The 10^th annual Reconnect Event will be held on Thursday, August 4 from 8am-noon.

The event will be held at The Breakfast Club, Pensioners Hall, located on the corner of Portwood St and Oxley Ave, Redcliffe.

What is Homelessness Week?

Homelessness Week aims to raise awareness of the impact of homelessness on Australia via national and local community events, including providing information on the importance of housing as a solution and educating communities on how they can make a difference.

According to Homelessness Australia:

• On any given night, 116,000 people in Australia are experiencing homelessness.
• Social housing in Australia has shrunk from 4.8 per cent of all homes in 2011 to 4.2 percent in 2021.
• One in seven people coming to homelessness services in Australia are young people on their own.
• In 2020-21, 114,000 people seeking homelessness services had to be turned away because of a lack of resources. That's 20 per cent more than the year before.
• Homelessness is not "rooflessness". Only seven percent of people without a home are sleeping rough. The majority of homelessness is hidden - people in crisis accommodation, rooming houses, insecure housing, overcrowded dwellings or couch surfing.
• Rents in Australia have increased by 9.1 per cent in capital cities and 10.8 per cent in regional areas in the past 12 months.

Find out more

For more information on homelessness, and how you can help, visit the Homelessness Australia website.