About a month ago I was doing some work for in Woolloomooloo. Early one morning I was amazed to see the number of homeless men around the area either just arising from their night’s sleep under the eastern suburbs railway overpass or packing away their mattresses, blankets etc. I reckon I counted about 30 guys in the area of three city blocks. I thought to myself – “this is crazy”. In Sydney? A virtual shanty town! (the photos say it all)
After a client meeting I went for a walk, I was dying for a coffee. I found a place that sold coffee but it didn’t take long before I realised it was a “drop-in centre” (that’s like a Matthew Talbots hostel without the beds) and said g'day to a few of the guys and left (see the last photo).
The next client meeting a couple of weeks later I again saw dozens of men waking up after their night’s sleep under the stars and I went back to the drop-in centre to get a coffee to talk to someone about what was going on. I ended up speaking to the woman who runs the centre (part of the “Hope Street” organisation). It seemed that this was the tip of the ice berg. She tells me that there are over 100,000 homeless in Sydney and numbers in the Wooloomooloo area are expected to double this winter. When I asked what could I do she said we need:
Hope Street have been around since 1992. The little Wooloomooloo drop-in centre is where the guys come for a coffee, chat maybe some lunch. Hope Street helps them with many things as best they can including looking for work, getting them the pension, hooking them up with dentist association who organise volunteer dentists for them and lots of other good things.
Clearly Sydney’s homeless problem is out of control and strategic planning is needed from the government down. Although it seems some progress is being made it’s obviously not quick enough. In the interim what we SLOBS can do is provide a couple of much needed band aids that will make life bearable for some in this particular group of homeless people in the Wooloomooloo area. Here are some supportive comments from some SLOBS already –
This is a great idea. I too have seen the locations you describe. What shocked me was the presence of a young women with child on one occasion. Stewart Wewege
Awesome idea and a worthy cause for all SLOBS Pete Smith (Class ’83)
A very worthy cause Dave Peach (Class ’79)
But we need to move quickly. The worst Sydney's winter is coming fast - remember the ice-on-the-windscreen mornings? So all SLOBS who want to chip-in any amount however small to make a difference, click on the “Chip-in” link below
Steve Butel
After a client meeting I went for a walk, I was dying for a coffee. I found a place that sold coffee but it didn’t take long before I realised it was a “drop-in centre” (that’s like a Matthew Talbots hostel without the beds) and said g'day to a few of the guys and left (see the last photo).
The next client meeting a couple of weeks later I again saw dozens of men waking up after their night’s sleep under the stars and I went back to the drop-in centre to get a coffee to talk to someone about what was going on. I ended up speaking to the woman who runs the centre (part of the “Hope Street” organisation). It seemed that this was the tip of the ice berg. She tells me that there are over 100,000 homeless in Sydney and numbers in the Wooloomooloo area are expected to double this winter. When I asked what could I do she said we need:
Hope Street have been around since 1992. The little Wooloomooloo drop-in centre is where the guys come for a coffee, chat maybe some lunch. Hope Street helps them with many things as best they can including looking for work, getting them the pension, hooking them up with dentist association who organise volunteer dentists for them and lots of other good things.
Clearly Sydney’s homeless problem is out of control and strategic planning is needed from the government down. Although it seems some progress is being made it’s obviously not quick enough. In the interim what we SLOBS can do is provide a couple of much needed band aids that will make life bearable for some in this particular group of homeless people in the Wooloomooloo area. Here are some supportive comments from some SLOBS already –
This is a great idea. I too have seen the locations you describe. What shocked me was the presence of a young women with child on one occasion. Stewart Wewege
Awesome idea and a worthy cause for all SLOBS Pete Smith (Class ’83)
A very worthy cause Dave Peach (Class ’79)
But we need to move quickly. The worst Sydney's winter is coming fast - remember the ice-on-the-windscreen mornings? So all SLOBS who want to chip-in any amount however small to make a difference, click on the “Chip-in” link below
Steve Butel
SLOBS Tents for the homeless campaign - Steven Butel
How can you help?
Steve Gillespie has kindly agreed to provide drop-off points for product (Old tents, Socks, ring-pull tinned food etc) at the St Vinnies stores at Gordon, Turramurra and Brookvale. If you drop packages there - please make sure they're marked with Steve Gillespie's name on them so they get processed to this appeal specifically. Steve can arrange other drop-off points also if you need that - call him on 0418 282 023 (Thanks Steve!)
I've set up a ChipIn account (see above) where we're collecting donations for a fund to go and buy tents and sleeping bags with. 100% of everything collected will go direct to the guys at Hope Street.
If you're active on Social Media, put a link to the ChipIn collection Pot (or this page as it has all the supporting info...) on your page at FaceBook, LinkedIn or wherever you hang out.
Likewise, push the link to as many people as you can through your regular network.
Thanks Gents! Steve B
Steve Gillespie has kindly agreed to provide drop-off points for product (Old tents, Socks, ring-pull tinned food etc) at the St Vinnies stores at Gordon, Turramurra and Brookvale. If you drop packages there - please make sure they're marked with Steve Gillespie's name on them so they get processed to this appeal specifically. Steve can arrange other drop-off points also if you need that - call him on 0418 282 023 (Thanks Steve!)
I've set up a ChipIn account (see above) where we're collecting donations for a fund to go and buy tents and sleeping bags with. 100% of everything collected will go direct to the guys at Hope Street.
If you're active on Social Media, put a link to the ChipIn collection Pot (or this page as it has all the supporting info...) on your page at FaceBook, LinkedIn or wherever you hang out.
Likewise, push the link to as many people as you can through your regular network.
Thanks Gents! Steve B
Steve's very interested in the issues confronting homeless people. In town recently for a meeting, he was in need of coffee - and wandered into Hope Street which is a drop in centre for Homeless Men. Homelessness is on the rise with the GEC and many people are sleeping rough in the Domain in Sydney - with Winter fast approaching it's bleek and uninviting prospect.
He is mobilising old SLOBS contacts with a very clear and specific call-to-action here . We are collecting the funds ourselves and then will buy the tents and sleeping bags that Hope Street so urgently need.. If you'd like to chip in - please feel free - we've set a goal of $1000 by June 30. If you live in Sydney and have an unused sleeping bag or dome-style 1 or 2 man tent - feel free to drop it off and we'll make sure it goes to someone who can really use it.
To donate - click on the ChipIn Widget below.
“The harvest of 1783 was poor, but Lafayette’s barns were full of wheat. Lafayette’s bailiff advised, "The bad harvest has raised the price of wheat. This is the time to sell." Lafayette thought about the hungry peasants in the nearby villages and said, "No, this is the time to give." Please give generously. Believe me, this will make you happy.
quote by Marquis de Lafayette (George Washington’s friend) 1783
**Updated 10th June - message from Steve **
“Hi all SLOBs and friends,
As you can see there was a lot of excitement when I delivered our 16 sets of new tents and sleeping bags on Tuesday 9th June. In fact there was a bit of argy-bargy at one stage as people tried to score a set. I left it to Fiona to hand out the to the most needy.
I understand there are still a few second hand ones being dropped in to Vinnies and I’ll be dropping them off asap
PS the forecast temperature for tonight is 9.7 degrees and for tomorrow is 6 degrees! Just in the nick of time!
Well done SLOBS – Fiona and the gang at Woolloomooloo said to please pass on their thanks
Steve Butel”
He is mobilising old SLOBS contacts with a very clear and specific call-to-action here . We are collecting the funds ourselves and then will buy the tents and sleeping bags that Hope Street so urgently need.. If you'd like to chip in - please feel free - we've set a goal of $1000 by June 30. If you live in Sydney and have an unused sleeping bag or dome-style 1 or 2 man tent - feel free to drop it off and we'll make sure it goes to someone who can really use it.
To donate - click on the ChipIn Widget below.
“The harvest of 1783 was poor, but Lafayette’s barns were full of wheat. Lafayette’s bailiff advised, "The bad harvest has raised the price of wheat. This is the time to sell." Lafayette thought about the hungry peasants in the nearby villages and said, "No, this is the time to give." Please give generously. Believe me, this will make you happy.
quote by Marquis de Lafayette (George Washington’s friend) 1783
**Updated 10th June - message from Steve **
“Hi all SLOBs and friends,
As you can see there was a lot of excitement when I delivered our 16 sets of new tents and sleeping bags on Tuesday 9th June. In fact there was a bit of argy-bargy at one stage as people tried to score a set. I left it to Fiona to hand out the to the most needy.
I understand there are still a few second hand ones being dropped in to Vinnies and I’ll be dropping them off asap
PS the forecast temperature for tonight is 9.7 degrees and for tomorrow is 6 degrees! Just in the nick of time!
Well done SLOBS – Fiona and the gang at Woolloomooloo said to please pass on their thanks
Steve Butel”