Local MP Ben Wyatt officially opened the event with a special guest speaker, Nicole Lawder, CEO of Homeless Australia, who stressed the importance of working together to prevent and respond to homelessness.
The event was a success with 44 agencies and 23 sponsors providing their support. Service providers that attended included Communicare, Department of Housing, Medicare, Centrelink and Sussex Street. Agencies were able to provide their guests with assistance and an understanding of available housing and financial support options.
Another great aspect of the day was the free personal care services provided, including hair cuts from WA Academy hairdressers, the Dental Rescue Team and Mobile GP's. Showers were available for guests at the venue, tables of clothes donated by the community were being handed out, and ongoing catering was available all day.
Access Housing staff who attended the event were Liz Waterhouse, Business Development Manager; Alex Kennedy, Business Development Assistant; Sommer Boyd, Housing Assistant and Stephanie Carlyon, Manager Housing Services Metro.
Access Housing's involvement throughout the week also included the Sausage Sizzle in Mandurah and the Walk to Support Homelessness in Forrest Chase (pictured below). Sommer, Liz and Fremantle Housing Coordinator Willow Anderson took part in the walk to raise community awareness about homelessness.