Closet clean-out: How you can help locals struggling this winter

Last month the Toowoomba region’s rental vacancy reached 0.6% with many experiencing or facing the threat of homelessness.

Vinnies Toowoomba executive officer Kathie Brosnan is calling on the community to assist people struggling with homelessness by donating to the charity's Winter Appeal. Picture: Rhylea Millar

Winter is well under way and with the rental crisis intensifying, many Toowoomba residents are facing the threat of homelessness.

Launching its winter appeal, Vinnies is encouraging the community to gift preloved items to assist people experiencing or at risk of homelessness throughout the cooler season.

Vinnies Toowoomba executive officer Kathie Brosnan said the charity’s winter appeal sought to assist locals struggling to keep a roof over their head or food on the table.

“We are calling on Toowoomba residents to de-clutter their cupboards and re-gift, reuse and recycle unwanted clothes and household items to help change the lives of people this winter,” Ms Brosnan said.

“We have a cold change starting to come through and many families across the state and the rental affordability crisis is also hitting people really hard … over the last month the vacancy rate in Toowoomba reached 0.6 per cent.”

Vinnies Toowoomba executive officer Kathie Brosnan is calling on the community to assist people struggling with homelessness by donating to the charity's Winter Appeal. Picture: Rhylea Millar

Items in high demand during the winter months include blankets, warm clothing and women’s hygiene products.

But Ms Brosnan said financial contributions would also go a long way in helping people going through a tough time.

“We have definitely seen an increase in people requiring assistance and a lot of people who have never required that assistance before,” she said.

“Queensland has some of the lowest rates in social housing in the country and the highest rate of rental stress and Toowoomba continues to be impacted by the state’s rental stress shortage.

“The state saw an increase in requests for government housing support from May to June last year and by the end of the month homelessness in Queensland is set to increase by as much as 3.6 per cent and housing stress by 11.4 per cent.”

Donations are accepted at all Vinnies stores during operating hours or at charity bins located throughout the region.

All funds raised locally will assist the Toowoomba region.

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