Anglican Parish to host a pop-up clinic for homeless Bundaberg women

A growing number of calls for help from the region’s homeless population has driven community groups to search for new ways to help. Read how:

The fight against Bundaberg’s homelessness is being ramped up by the Anglican Support Ministry which is hosting a series of pop-up clinics, spurred on by a rising number of calls for help.

On Thursday September 8, the Anglican Parish of Bundaberg will host a the clinics as part of Women’s Health Week, focusing on helping the growing population of displaced and homeless women in Bundaberg.

The event will coincide with RUOkay Day and the Anglican Support Ministry soup kitchen operations.

Church Warden and Parish Councillor Jo Leveritt said the clinics were “a good opportunity to connect with our homeless women and homeless community”.

“Women face some of the biggest housing affordability challenges in our community with poverty, financial inequality and other structural barriers placing them at risk of significant housing stress and homelessness,” she said.

Father Keith Dean-Jones said a noticeable rise in the number of women accessing the church’s existing services brought about the idea for the festival.

“A lot of them are victims of domestic violence and breakdowns in relationships,”

“The three great issues that we are very alert to is the incredible increase in the cost of housing, the high rents and the lack of adequate and plentiful public housing,” he said.

Father Dean-Jones confessed that the church services had a weak link in its ability to provide safe and long-term housing.

“We feed people, we clothe people in the op-shop, we also have a provision of showers and laundry services, but the problem we have is our inability to provide accommodation.”

There was hope the festival would raise awareness and encourage other local businesses and the Bundaberg Regional Council to provide further support for the region’s homeless population.

Hearing Australia and the VacSeen Clinic are just some of the community organisations supporting the event which would be free to the public.

Reverend Kate Ross said “Jean Hailes has donated 100 bags which, with the help of St Luke’s Anglican School student volunteers, we are filling with donations of items suitable for women on the streets and will distribute these on the day”.

(From left) Jenny Moreny, Eunice Auer and Val Messer hard at work preparing tea kits for the care packages distributed by the parish.

The Anglican Parish was still calling for donations such as soap, toothbrush, shampoo, hairbrush, socks, nail polish, hair ties/scrunchies to be included in the bags.

Items must be new and still sealed in their original packing, and not past their expiration date.

Any donations can be dropped off at St Luke’s Anglican School main office at 4 Mezger St Kalkie, or the Anglican Parish of Bundaberg office at 59 Woongarra St on the corner of Maryborough St Bundaberg.

The event will take place at 59 Woongarra St on the corner of Maryborough St.

The soup kitchen lunch is available from 12pm to 1pm.