A self-funded, not-for-profit crisis centre has helped people who have fallen on hard times for over 22 years, but now its facing its own.
Pushed from its full-time premises, the Upper Room Ministries Crisis Centre at Regents Park will now be forced to run from a backyard caravan.
Founder Cathy Bunn said the crisis centre had to move out because the owner is selling the property.
“They want money. They are going to demolish it and build units – it’s just horrible,” she said.
Crisis centre volunteers will now be working from a mobile office on Mrs Bunn’s property at North Maclean.
“We will be setting up a van on our property and working from there,” Mrs Bunn said.
“We are all volunteers, we don’t have funding or government assistance and we are also a non-profit, so this is what we need to do to help people.”
Mrs Bunn said the centre is extremely important for the community.
“Big charity organisations that have funding, shut down for three weeks over Christmas and those who need the help just have to turn their hungry bellies off for three weeks,” she said.
“These people need someone to be there to spend the time with them and direct them to other avenues for help if they need it. They need someone to be available for them when no one else is.”
The team is still moving belongings out of the Estramina Drive location, having their move date extended for one week. Mrs Bunn said there are a few items they will need to get rid of.
“We have a big wooden entertainment unit and three organs going for free,” she said.
“We are looking at organising a big carpark sale in the future, to get rid of the other furniture we can’t take with us.”
For more information about the Upper Room Ministries Crisis Centre contact Cathy Bunn on 0429 152 642.
