Charity and support services are crying out for donations from investors and businesses to help keep up with the demands of families in need in Logan.
Last year, YFS started their Logan Zero campaign, a campaign to ensure that Logan residents have access to safe and supportive housing.
“By working together across the community to know exactly who is homeless and what their needs are, we can advocate for system improvements to end homelessness in Logan,” CEO of YFS, Cath Bartolo said.
Within the campaign members surveyed over 50 homeless households in Logan. The people surveyed were aged between 16 and 63 and represented 127 homeless people including 65 children.
It also revealed that 78% of those surveyed had one or more chronic health conditions, 84% had experience trauma, 65% experience violence and 53% first experience homelessness as a child.
“We need to work together as a community to match people to the housing and support services that they need,” Ms Bartolo.
“Homelessness in Logan is not inevitable.”
The question is, are support services able to stay afloat themselves?
Director of 5FOLD, Melinda Hartley said while “we can all do more” to help, finances and availability may not allow that.
“We have helped over 197 families last year, this is purely regarding emergency relief,” she said.
“We can do more but we have no space and cannot afford the commercial lease prices in Yarrabilba, where we are currently located.
“This is another area people need to consider – the funding, finances and support for services like ours.”
Logan City Council said funded 24 grant applications since 2021 for projects providing emergency relief.
“Logan City Council engages and collaborates with local services and non-for-profit organisations that provide a wide range of support services to people experiencing housing and homelessness challenges,” a council spokesperson said.
“Since July 2021, council has funded 24 grant applications for projects supporting emergency response, homelessness and vulnerable people. Funding went towards emergency relief, equipment, laundry services, food hampers, furniture and deliveries of food and clothing.”
Is this enough?
Ms Hartley said charities are looking for investors and businesses to help where they can.
“We would love to call out to some investors or businesspeople who could provide us with larger donations that we can apply to rent or other services to help,” she said.
“We can give them a taxable receipt too, and it goes towards an incredible cause.”
