Stepping out for homelessness

Uniting Communities leading this Friday’s Pride in Your Stride walk & shoe drive

In the end it’s a simple question. Do you agree that it’s time to end homelessness? If your answer is a resounding yes then this Friday you can help achieve that goal by being part of the annual ‘Pride In Your Stride’ walk to raise awareness of the issues facing those who are experiencing homelessness.

Held as part of National Homelessness Week, participants of the walk are asked to assemble on the west side of the Vansittart Park gates on Commercial Street at 10.45am this Friday, with the walk commencing at 11am.

The ‘Pride in your Stride’ walk will proceed down Commercial Street, then around to the Mount Gambier library – approximately a 15-minute walk – where they will be greeted by services from Uniting Communities and the team from the Lions Club who are kindly cooking up a delicious free lunch for all.

Uniting Communities program Ruby’s Reunification will once again be front and centre of the annual awareness raising event with Ruby’s Reunification senior coordinator Sharon Gray saying the walk signifies what a person who is experiencing homelessness has to do every morning – they have to move from where they have been and seek food, shelter and support.

Homelessness continues to grow at an alarming rate and on any given night, 122,500 Australians are without a home, with over 19,000 of those being children aged 0-14. “Homelessness can happen for many reasons with domestic and family violence being a leading factor,” Sharon said. “Add to that, rent increases, lack of affordable housing, overcrowding, financial strain, mental health, relationship breakdown and problematic alcohol and drug consumption. So many reasons, which can affect so many people from all walks of life. “Even a small ‘step’ by participating in our event can make a difference and we invite members of the public, businesses, community services, schools etc.

to join us to raise awareness of this important issue.” Another key component of the event is Ruby’s request for the donation of new or near new shoes so they can be collected and given to those in our community who are in need, so they can have ‘pride in their stride’, so please consider bringing along a pair of shoes to donate.

“From previous years of this event, we estimate we have provided approximately 500 pairs of shoes to those in need in our community,” Sharon said. “We hope we can significantly increase that amount this year.”

Ruby’s Reunification is grateful to their supporters who are hosting shoe collection baskets so if you have any shoes that you’d like to donate, you can pop them in one of the baskets located at Troy Bells Office, Mount Gambier Library, Bunnings and Tenison Woods College.

The City of Mount Gambier, Lions Club, Woolworths and Bakers Delight (Commercial Street) are also supporters of this Friday’s event.

‘It’s time to end Homelessness’ is the theme of this year’s National Homelessness Week.

“Please join us to show support and raise awareness about this growing issue,” Sharon said. “The walk across Mount Gambier

symbolises this daily journey with the community coming together to support those facing homelessness and show that nobody should ever have to walk alone.”