Base Services’ founders hit streets together for first time
BASE Services’ Tiff Spary will join her husband Nat in sleeping rough for seven days for the first time, as part of Homeless for a Week.
Toowoomba
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BASE Services' co-ordinator Tiff Spary will join her husband Nat in sleeping rough for the first time, as part of the organisation's Homeless for a Week campaign.
Mr Spary has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the service provider over the past 10 years by hitting the streets of the Toowoomba CBD for a week, all while raising awareness of the growing issue of homelessness across the region.
Mrs Spary confirmed yesterday she would also spend the next seven days braving the cold, in a bid to raise greater awareness of the lack of accommodation for couples.
"There is actually no accommodation for couples (in the region), and often couples stay in a caravan or a motel, which is too expensive," she said.
"I thought by sleeping out (with Nat), it would raise awareness of that.
"Often, the males can get accommodation, but the females can't with them, (so) that's the reality for lots of couples who can't find accommodation together.
"The other thing that motivated me is we do the Second Shot Cafe program, and we have people who do the traineeship who are homeless.
"It will give me some more perspective and compassion for my Second Shot trainees."
Ms Spary said the experience would also help guide how the Base Services could better assist people dealing with tough circumstances.
"I remember the first year that Nat did Homeless for a Night, and his lips got so dry that he said we needed lip balm, so we started including that in our packs we gave out," she said.
"This will improve our service, because we'll know what is needed."
Base Services hosted their annual Homeless Week sleep-out in the CBD last night, with hundreds of people learning about the challenges that people dealing with homelessness faced.
Several Toowoomba councillors also took part in the sleep-out, including Cr Rebecca Vonhoff.
Despite COVID-19 threatening to derail the fundraising effort, Mrs Spary said the campaign had raised over $100,000 to this point.
"The generosity and compassion from people has been amazing," she said.
"We haven't had huge corporate sponsors, it's been the individuals."
All money raised goes back into the Base Services and its soup kitchen on Neil St.
To donate, head to the Homeless for a Week website.