What a great day at the Hub today our first ever FREE Market Day, fabulous day with 58 people attending. We still have a lot of great clothes and blankets left so we are going to do it all again next week same place -same time. Let everyone know and come again next week.
We will be holding a FREE market day where there will be clothes, blanket stall and some household items. 10 – 2 at the Hub 24 Kenny Street, Friday 3 July 2015 . if you are doing it tough and need blankies for winter come on down all the generous people of the Illawarra would love to see their donations going to those in need.
Friday Feedback on a Sunday. Feedback for the past 5 days we were open.
167 visits to the Hub in the last 5 days
32 new clients came to the Hub these people were mainly referred by family and friends.
20 were male and 12 were female, average age this week was in the 36- 45 age bracket.
12 of the new clients were rough sleepers- sleeping on beach etc.a further 9 were staying in emergency housing.
4 people secured housing this week.
One of our regular visitors was successful in gaining employment this week we wish him luck on his first day Monday. He has been unable to secure housing and has been sleeping in his car for 7 months.
We provided brokerage on 21 occassions and provided 89 prepared meals….. thank you to the wonderful Barlissimo Cafe Gwynneville for providing a delicious potato and leek soup for lunch one day.
All of our storage sulo bins are full- these bins provide much needed storage for rough sleepers.
Shower and laundry service on 30 occassions.
This week was our FREE haircut and massage day thank you to Sonja and Raefaela for providing this service to 20 grateful clients.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO SAVVY FITNESS WHO ARE RAISING MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR US FROM THEIR WINTER WARRIOR CHALLENGE. if you have not done so please sign up I vowed I would but have since broken my foot and am in a moon boot for a further 3 weeks. Thanks Lee Robinson staff member for taking the challenge for us.
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SOCCER CLUBS AND SCHOOLS WHO ARE CONTINUING TO BRING IN TINS FROM WRAP UP HOMELESSNESS DAY.
A an extra big thank you to Mark Corcoran our wonderful volunteer for organising our Auction of Dragons training shirt. Make sure you get your bids in and watch Mondays Mercury for an article about our Mark.
Thank you workers from the Australian Taxation Office Wollongong and workers from Centrlink Wollongong for your generous donations of money and food.
Thank you quilters Illawarra for the donation of beautiful patchwork quilts
AUCTION : AUCTION ENDS 2ND JULY 12 MIDNIGHT PICK UP ON THE 3RD, FROM 24 KENNY STREET.
SIGNED DRAGONS TRAINING T SHIRT, modeled by Joel Thompson- Centre 2nd row, Mitch Rein -Hooker and our own Lee Robinson ” well what can you say about Lee?” RED V MERCHANDISE PACK AND 2 TICKETS TO DRAGONS VS COWBOYS WIN STADIUM 4TH JULY. STARTING BID $100.00.
PLEASE SHARE THIS AND SUPPORT MARK’S GENEROSITY.
The first photo is of our dedicated volunteer Mark. Mark first started coming to the Hub when we were in our small premises on Crown Street. Through working with the Hub Mark was successful in finding secure accommodation and now enjoys all the benefits of stable housing. Mark returned to the Hub and has been working as a volunteer assisting Community Movers as an offsider and as an all round go to it.
Mark is always looking for ways to assist the Hub and fund raise, as he knows how every dollar raised goes to help those who are struggling.
Mark purchased this Dragons training t shirt out of his own centrelink payment it cost $70.00 and Mark refused our offer to reimburse him. He wanted so much to do this for the Hub and it’s visitors. Mark is also a valuable volunteer with the Illawarra Cutters and St George Illawarra Dragons. Mark lives for football……he was able to approach the Dragons and all of the 2015 team signed the shirt, they also donated a Red V Merchandise pack and 2 tickets GA to the St George Illawarra Dragons vs Cowboys at WIN Stadium July 4th.
COME ON LET’S GET THIS AUCTION ROLLING I BID $100.00.
Friday Fortnightly Feedback: report for last 9 days,
Held our Wrap up Homelessness day on 12th of June -so far have raised close to $4,000 remaining 20 tins to collect.
Special thanks:
Barlissimo Cafe Gwyneville,
Figtree Public school teachers and Figtree High teachers and students
Football South Coast
Albion Park Junior Soccer Club
Corrimal Junior Soccer Club
Figtree Junior Soccer Club
Kiama Junior Soccer Club
Michelle Brindle and her morning tea guests
Market Street, Medical Practice
Visits to the Hub:in the last 9 days 287
2 families found housing
5 individuals were succesful in finding housing
Housed 1 famiy of 6 in one of WEFH properties :were able to assist this family with household items and furniture: This family commented in our feedback book:
“Have so much to say about the Hub all good things of course. Leanore was a great help in introducing what things could help with finding rentals and Kim has been a wonderful support as well. We have got stable accommodation just in time for winter and received a lot of help with household items and furniture as well.
Just when I felt like giving up and like I wasn’t getting anywhere the Hub gave me hope to go on. I will be forever thankful
89 people received breakfast in 9 days
we have increased the number of food packages we have given out and also the number of tents and swags.
Lisa a former client came in to introduce us to her brand new baby Charlie congratulations Lisa we are so proud of you.
Community Movers moved 12 families in last 9 days:
First ever Wrap up Homelessness Day: 12th June 2015 celebrate this historical occassion with us. Thank you, thank you to all the generous people in the Mall who donated to our stall. Thank you to all those wonderful people who held events such as mornings teas thank you to all local schools who participated. thank you i98 fm, thank you Mayor Bradbery for his support.
Friday Feedback:
The Hub has been busy as usual. We did not have a chance to update last Friday,so this is an update for a two week period:
342 visits by homeless clients to the Hub
88 breakfasts served
28 showers
22 laundry services
68 food packages given out
9 clients secured housing
2 clients gained employment
provided clothing to 3 clients for appointments and interviews
A Big THANK YOU to just some generous donations this week:
Lyn and Partner donated $890.00 for us to purchase street swags
Cricks Butchery Murphys Avenue Gwynneville for donating sausages and bacon for our breakfast program.
As well as the many wonderful people who bought food parcels in.
On Monday we launched our campaign Wrap up Homelessness Day and was joined by Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery, students and teachers from Figtree Primary and High, Pleasant Heights Public School, Wollongong High and St Columbkills Primary. Football South Coast CEO Ann-Marie Balliana who kindly launched our partnership with Football South Coast.
Media interviews with:
Mercury
Win News
i98fm
Wave fm
Unfortunately although we had lots of great stories and with your assistance were able to assist so many- there are still occassions were people are forced to sleep rough. Below is the reality of street living. The best we could do on this particular night when all accommodation was booked in the Illawarra was to provide a mattress, lots of blankets and a blue tarp.This is our friend with the broken pelvis. Remember when you or your school or workplace support us on Wrap up Homelessness Day Friday 12th of June you are helping us assist people in need. Please contact us if you would like a kit 4228 0955.
We had a fantastic night last Wednesday , supporting the young socceroos playing against the young Brazilians. Thank you Football South Coast for allowing us to fund raise at this event and thank you for the ball signed by all the young socceroos. Just remember every time you are freezing in the stands enjoying a game less than 100 meters away people are trying to stay warm sleeping on the beach. Thank you for your support sport is a great way to bring all communities together.
Great event today to launch our winter campaign – Wrap Up Homelessness.
Cmon Illawarra. Get behind us and show your support for the most vulnerable in our community, homeless men, women and children. Show you care by wearing a scarf on June 12. Donate $2 to the Homeless Hub.
Let’s see if your workplace, school or group of friends can raise the most money.
Illawarra Mercury 28 January 2014
The role of Piccadilly in addressing the region’s homelessness issues has not gone unnoticed by Illawarra housing agencies.
This month, the official opening of a new “homeless hub” by Wollongong Emergency Family Housing and Wollongong Women’s Housing will create a one-stop-shop for homelessness resources just metres from the Piccadilly entrance.
“Housing clients will ring around from one service to the next trying to find help, so we thought it would be great to have all the services together under one roof,” said Loekie Klevjer, manager of Women’s Housing.
Illawarra Mercury 17 December 2013
A lack of public housing and the high cost of rental properties had forced many people in the Illawarra to couch surf or to become homeless, Julie Mitchell of Wollongong Emergency Family Housing said yesterday.
Ms Mitchell was commenting on a new federal government survey which showed 244,000 Australians used homelessness services in the past financial year – an increase of 3 per cent.
Illawarra Mercury, September 30 2013
The Piccadilly Centre has been called many things – an eyesore, a hotspot of crime, even an “enclave of scumbags” in a 2012 Brand Wollongong report. But for a slice of the Illawarra’s most at-risk people, Piccadilly is something else entirely – home.
For years, the Piccadilly Motor Inn has been a last resort for the region’s homeless. Whether referred by agencies including Housing NSW or the Department of Community Services, or arriving on the doorstep with a suitcase in one hand and a child in the other, Piccadilly has long been a refuge for people and families without options.
