By Aaron Cordy
THE Salvation Army Shepparton held its Homeless Walk around Victoria Park Lake on Friday, August 7, drawing attention to an issue that still affects many in the community, but one we don’t always want to acknowledge.
“Salvation Army, like many of the services in town, are constantly aware and more than aware of the level of homelessness in our community,” said Shepparton Corps Officer Major Scott Smallacombe.
“Just in the last few weeks, as the river just beside us rose, a number of homeless people, who normally would camp on the lands just a few meters away from us, were suddenly not just homeless, but even the homelessness camps were washed away and they just had nowhere to stay.
“It is the reality of life in Shepparton, parklands is where many of our homeless communities stay, also throughout town. It’s very much in our face the reality for many people. So we thank you for coming today because today is about not necessarily the solution but constantly raising this as something that has to be dealt with.
“We think about a homeless person sleeping in a camp or on park, we probably don’t think as much about the young person who’s sharing – we call it couchsurfing – staying at your friend’s house for a few nights. So, his friend might let me stay for a few nights, and a few days later, the next friend. We know of many people doing that all the time.”
The homeless crisis is a man faced beast, with many contributing factors. While the there is no simple fix, with continuous advocacy from the Salvation Army and other great local services, the most vulnerable people in the community may have a place to turn.
