Through UnitingCare West’s Winter Appeal, enough funds have been raised to turn the lights on at Tranby on Saturdays for the first time, on 15 July. Funds won’t last the year yet, so initially only core hours and services, including a free hot breakfast, showers, clothing, groceries and support from experienced staff, are offered from 7.00–10.00am on Saturdays.
With no sheltered Saturday morning services available in Perth for the homeless community, UnitingCare West made it their mission this winter to offer services to those most in need. Tranby, in East Perth, offers free breakfast, shower facilities, support services and a warm venue to the homeless community. As a mission based organisation, all of UnitingCare West’s work is person-centered: starting with the individual, and building programs and supports around their needs. Working where others don’t, UnitingCare West deliberately researches needs and implements solutions, where it finds that individuals are falling through the cracks.
Their current Winter Appeal: Turn on the Lights aims to raise $150,000 to offer Saturday services to the homeless community for a year.
Amanda Hunt, UnitingCare West Chief Executive Officer, said she is “very grateful for the overwhelming support we have received from individuals, the community, as well as other agencies. Within weeks of starting this campaign, we have passed the half-way mark in our quest to raise $150,000 this winter, so we can open up Tranby on Saturdays!
“This is an encouraging response and I hope that the community will continue to support us, so we can offer the full suite of services on Saturdays into the future.”
“We are not stopping here,” says Sean Gardyne, Manager Homelessness at UnitingCare West. “We will remain on our quest to raise the $150,000 required to further extend our hours on a Saturday, so we can meet the needs of those who continue to sleep rough in our community.”
To find out more and to donate visit unitingcarewest.org.au/donate/2017-winter-appeal.