Homelessness Week

Last week was National Homelessness Week, which gave Anglicare NT the opportunity to raise awareness on the issue of homelessness and work together with the community to support people experiencing homelessness.

The Northern Territory has twelve times the average national rate of homelessness. There are many Territorians doing it tough – sleeping rough, couch surfing and living in unstable or short-term accommodation.

Each one of these people have a story. Anglicare NT helped share Edna’s* story, which featured in the NT News on Saturday 11 August. Edna works full time as a child educator but despite her stable employment, is homeless and sleeps in a tent with her two teenaged children.

Anglicare NT CEO Dave Pugh said, “It’s more common than people realise… we need to say to our Governments that social housing matters.”

In Darwin, Anglicare NT staff from the Housing Accommodation Support Initiative, Housing Options Pathways Program and the Youth Accommodation Support Service gave away donations at Somerville’s annual Homelessness Week event. Held at Mindil Beach, the event brings organisations together to provide rough sleepers with items or services that they need and might not often receive.

A big thank you to Share the Dignity for the sanitary items and to Anglicare NT’s ReStore for donating clothes and blankets. Thanks also to Lo Castro Icecream who provided a treat of delicious coffee and butterscotch icecream

Following the community event, Anglicare NT representatives attended a function for NT Shelter at Government House, which was hosted by Her Honour the Administrator, the Honourable Vicki O’Halloran. Peak body NT Shelter, Anglicare NT and other service providers were all thanked for their efforts in supporting people facing homelessness in the Northern Territory.

*Edna’s name has been changed for confidentiality.

Anglicare NT staff in Darwin give away donations at Somerville’s annual Homelessness Week event at Mindil Beach.