Wayside Chapel Long Walk Home 2021 fundraiser supports homeless during Covid

Covid has hit everyone hard these past 18 months, but no one more so than Sydney’s homeless community. So next month do what you can to help by joining Wayside Chapel’s Long Walk Home.

Traumatised vulnerable people with Covid or at risk of catching it while living rough or in social housing are turning to charities in droves as their mistrust towards authorities leaves them unable to gain access to basic necessities.

Wayside Chapel is well known for its presence in Kings Cross and Bondi but since the latest outbreak began the group’s outreach teams have been inundated with pleas for help from areas including Redfern with high social housing populations.

Pastor Jon Owen said it’s not unusual for individuals who have been incarcerated or otherwise institutionalised to reject help from authorities even when they desperately need it.

“Just trying to find places to quarantine creates a lot of anxiety, particularly for people who have trauma from being institutionalised. The thought of having to be locked up for a few weeks creates a lot of distress,” Pastor Owen said.

“So many people are mistrustful so often it our outreach teams delivering food and packs for people during their quarantine.

“We just had a family who had to quarantine for a month straight with children. It was us providing food and basics around hygiene because we are the ones with that pre existing relationship and trust.”

All Aussies are encouraged to get on board with the fundraiser.

Pastor Owen is calling on all Australians to take part in one of Wayside’s biggest annual fundraisers – Long Walk Home 2021 which is being run virtually for the second year.

Usually, participants walk the 28km from Kings Cross to Parramatta which represents the distance the average homeless person walks each week to find shelter or their next meal.

It is hoped more than 2000 people will register for this year’s event which takes place over a week from Saturday October 2 to Friday October 8.

Participants are encouraged to clock up the kilometres during their essential exercise periods within their 5km radius.

Leon Hill is captain of the Wayside team.

Wayside Chapel’s own fundraising team is captained by local identity Leon Hill who has recently transitioned into stable housing after a decade on the streets.

NewsLocal together with NRMA, Credit Suisse and PwC are proud supporters of Long Walk Home 2021.

To sign up go HERE

You can also donate to Mr Hill’s team HERE