Doorknock to combat homelessness

THE Salvation Army Ballarat are encouraging the city to take part in their annual Red Shield Appeal fundraising efforts, with a goal of generating over sixty thousand dollars.

Delacombe Salvation Army corps officer Captain Craig Farrell said the 2021 initiative is a Digital Doorknock, with a focus on supporting members of greater Ballarat who are experiencing homelessness.

“The pandemic highlighted homelessness and the realities of it. There’s been a significant increase in attendance at Doorways, and across the board at the Ballarat Community Church, and a significant increase of people who have never presented before,” he said.

“There were some good success stories of people finding long-term housing last year, but we’re in an unknown area now and there’s a fear that we might go back to where we were, with people waiting years to find long-term accommodation. That’s a concern.”

All funds generated through the Greater Ballarat Salvos fundraising page will be directly injected into local emergency relief programs like the Soldiers Hill homeless service, Doorways food distribution, bills and utilities assistance, the school lunch program, and the alcohol and other drugs peer support group.

“There are static collection points at shopping centres which people can volunteer for as well,” Captain Farrell said.

“COVID has been a really challenging time for everyone emotionally, so we’re really trying to be a positive presence in the community.

“The money raised here in Ballarat stays in Ballarat. We can’t do it alone.”

Chair of the Greater Ballarat Red Shield Committee Vicki Coltman has one message in particular to communicate.

“It’s about all of us working together to support those in our community that are most vulnerable,” she said.

“Many of them don’t ask for help; we have to find them, and when we find them, we have to work with them over long periods to get them to trust us and get the help they need.

“We’ve got lots of new people coming to Ballarat, but we can’t forget there are lots of families and people who still need help. These are proud people, we need to respect that, and make it as easy as possible for them.”

Visit the Greater Ballarat Salvos Digital Doorknock page at bit.ly/3y1Nl4G to join the team or source more information.