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\u201cHe has a bigger team now and wants to make sure the culture is about supporting and giving back to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Outreach Van has been running for more than eight years on the Bellarine Peninsula with the aim to make contact with vulnerable people experiencing homelessness or isolation.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people who have a house are just getting by and all their money is going on rent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t get to eat so we support them with food, supplies but more often than not they need a listening ear and confidence to keep going and make their own positive choices.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Hobbs said there is a greater need for housing and support on the Bellarine Peninsula than ever before.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur Salvos Connect Services are overwhelmed with the number of calls coming from people desperately looking for houses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is virtually no affordable housing on the Bellarine for single parent families and people on pensions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe agents are working in this environment, they work with housing \u2013 they see the pressure first-hand.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThey as a group can\u2019t control the market, but they can be involved in making sure people get the support they need.\u201d<\/p>\n
The duo are in the midst of creating a network for businesses to get involved in donating and working with the Bellarine Salvos, with Mr Smith hoping it can one day be used to source low-cost social housing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s called \u2018It Takes a Village\u2019 and it will connect business leaders from the region,\u201d Mr Smith said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want a network of around 100 businesses to not only financially support but engage in the projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still haven\u2019t cracked low-cost housing, it\u2019s just a matter of finding the land which is the biggest cost component.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully one day, through It Takes A Village, we can raise half a million dollars to buy land, build a house and get a fully assisted program going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Smith said it was important for his team to try and prevent community members from \u201cfalling through the cracks\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor now, we will help out with the Outreach Van, give a few blankets, a bit of food and some time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LOCAL real estate agents have joined the Bellarine Salvos on the frontline for the month of June. Ray White Drysdale agents are providing volunteer hours to join the Salvos Outreach Van and give back to the community. Director Travis Smith said the partnership has been ongoing for many years with their support now ramping up. […]<\/p>\n