Thank you to everyone who donated to our recent Christmas appeal.
As a direct result of the donations we received, we were able to support 57 individuals and families – more than 150 people – over the Christmas and new year period. This included families who were homeless or facing homelessness and people experiencing domestic violence.
With your support we have been able to: assist pay for accommodation for people who were couch surfing or sleeping in their car; buy essential items like fridges, washing machines and beds for people fleeing domestic violence or struggling financially; pay for transport-related costs like fuel, go cards, and car registration to allow people to continue to go to work or attend essential medical appointments; and so much more.
Here are just a few stories of the people that you have helped us support:
- After fleeing a domestic violence situation, Alison* had been homeless for six months and was living in a squat with her nine-month-old child. YFS helped Alison secure a new home through the Department of Housing, but she had no furniture or appliances. We were able to assist her purchase a second-hand fridge and washing machine for her and her daughter.
- Chris* and two of his four children were in a serious car accident which had a significant financial impact on the family, leading to serious debt. He could not afford beds for the children. One child was sleeping on an old mattress on the floor, two were sharing a bed base lined with cushions and the youngest was sleeping on an ottoman. We helped the family to purchase proper beds for the children so they could sleep in better conditions.
- Judy*, Matt* and their six children were homeless and living in a motel. YFS helped them to find a private rental, however it wasn’t available immediately. They were unable to afford to keep paying for their furniture storage while paying for the motel and were at risk of losing all their belongings. We helped them negotiate a reduced fee with the storage company and paid for their storage.
- Fara* was homeless and had been sleeping in her car with her two young children, aged four months and two years, over the Christmas period. We were able to pay for short-term accommodation and food.
- *Names have been changed to protect privacy.
We are so grateful for your support. Without your donations, we would not have been able to assist these vulnerable people in our community.
In the words of one of our clients:
Of course, our work is not done. Many families are struggling to afford back-to-school items for their children and with the ongoing impacts of the coronavirus there are more people who need assistance every day.
Your donations are welcome and needed all year round. An ongoing monthly donation can help us continue to provide support to people who need it most, like those families above.
Thank you for your generous support.
Cath Bartolo
YFS, Chief Executive Officer
