A fundraising event in Daylesford had buyers leaving with bags full of designer items and thousands raised for a good cause.
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The Homeless Couture at Daylesford Town Hall recently raised $3000 for the region’s homeless.
The money will go toward buying Backpack Beds, a swag that rolls to a backpack, for homeless people sleeping without shelter.
Child and Family Services (CAFS) Daylesford housing worker Jennifer Burns said the Backpack Beds would be useful for the handful of people in the region who may be sleeping in forests or cars, but services were available to help struggling people into secure housing.
“We try to do as much as we can to get people into private rental or hostel accommodation and sometimes we do get people housed through transitional houses in Daylesford,” Ms Burns said.
“We get, maybe every fortnight, a person who really needs some sort of crisis support. But that’s not counting the people who just need help to pay rent.
“We do intensive case management which can involve anything from driving someone to a dental appointment to linking them in with drug and alcohol and mental health services.”
Ms Burns said a lack of affordable housing in Daylesford made it difficult for those struggling financially.
“Housing in Daylesford is particularly difficult. If you have a look online there are two houses under $300 dollars a week. Only two,” she said.
“If you’re unemployed you’ll get $270 a week and $60 rent assistance, so you can see it is just not possible. Creswick and Ballarat have a lot more cheaper options. It is affordable housing as well as community housing that we need.”
Around 200 people attended the Daylesford Town Hall for the Homeless Couture fundraising event. “Everyone was getting really excited with fundraising tallies,” event organiser Richard Herr said.
The Homeless Couture raised money to buy 28 Backpack Beds, but organisers aim to raise the money for 50. Call Mr Herr on 0428 327 198 to donate.