MORE than 2000 homeless people got pampered in Russell Square, Northbridge last Thursday.
The 10th annual Homeless Connect event, run by Volunteering WA, saw more than 80 services including optometrists, hairdressers, vets, dentists, massage therapists, showers, GP and financial counselling converge to provide free food, clothes and pampering for those less fortunate.
Volunteering WA chief executive Tina Williams said it took many months to prepare for the event each year.
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READ NOW“Volunteering WA operated a warehouse in Welshpool which accepted thousands of donation boxes filled with clothes, non-perishable food, shoes and toiletries to use for the day and volunteers helped to sort, label and organise the items,” she said.
She said many guests returned each year and one of the most popular services was the Births, Deaths and Marriages booth where people could get help with obtaining personal documentation.
Ms Williams said homelessness could not be solved in one day.
“On any given night, approximately 9600 people are homeless in Western Australia,” she said.
“Homelessness cannot be solved in one day, but events like this allow people to become reconnected into the community.”
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