Close to 1,000 people either impacted or at risk of homelessness enjoyed a spot of pampering and access to essential services at the seventh annual Homeless Connect at Metricon Stadium this week ahead of Saturday’s Homeless Sleepout at the ground.
The event was a one-stop-shop where disadvantaged people on the Gold Coast could enjoy a hot coffee, get a haircut, and, importantly, speak to counsellors, legal advisors and other community service groups.
It was the second year in a row Metricon Stadium hosted the event, and Donna Gates, Acting Mayor City of Gold Coast, said it was an important occasion for those in the community struggling to make it through each day.
“I think today is a day that allows them, with pride, to accept donations from the wider Gold Coast community,” Acting Mayor Gates said.
“It’s wonderful the way that it’s set up with stalls that, it’s like purchasing some goods, but, of course, they’re all free.”
Minister for Housing and Public Works, Tim Mander, was also in attendance and said homelessness was an issue that had to be tackled by the wider community.
“What this does is it raises the profile of homelessness,” the Minister said.
“It’s a hidden problem and people don’t appreciate how many people are in that situation.”
The GC SUNS have supported the event for the past two years and GM Commercial Operations, Sam Eustice, said Youth Homelessness was one of three areas of social responsibility that the club focused its efforts on through its Horizons program.
“Homeless Connect is a fantastic initiative which the SUNS are proud to be associated with,” Eustice said.
“It’s part of our Youth Homelessness Week, which started last week with hosting 45 underprivileged people at a game, which was great, and it will finish this Saturday night with the Homeless Sleepout here at Metricon Stadium.”
The Homeless Sleepout begins at 2pm on Saturday, August 9, with the GC SUNS clash with Carlton on the big screen at the start of the afternoon.
Fans are welcome to come down to enjoy the festivities, regardless of whether they want to sleepout overnight. Players Jack Hutchins and Tom Nicholls will sleep rough on the evening and they have setup an Everyday Hero fundraising page. To make donations click here - https://give.everydayhero.com/au/hutchins-and-nicholls-sleepout
