By NICOLE VALICEK
TWO of Hobsons Bay’s business and community leaders will spend the night couch surfing to raise funds to help address homelessness.
Hobsons Bay City Council mayor Angela Altair and deputy mayor Luba Grigorovitch hope to raise $10,000 by couch surfing in the council offices overnight for local youth homeless charity, Latitude: Directions for Young People.
On any given night one in 200 people are homeless, with 190 people aged between 16 and 25 on the priority waiting list across Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Wyndham and Moonee Valley.
The majority are couch surfers.
“I have worked with Latitude for a number of years and am keen to raise their profile, as well as highlight youth homelessness in Hobsons Bay,” Cr Grigorovitch said.
“As they say, ‘from little things big things grow’ … I sincerely hope that this becomes an annual event for Hobsons Bay and one that raises a great deal of awareness and money for Latitude.”
“The trend of homeless young people ‘couch surfing’ from one house to another to ensure a roof over their head is one that is emerging, with 25 known young people couch surfing each month.”
“I hope Cr Altair and I sleeping out on a couch together for one night can put this and other types of homelessness in the spotlight.”
Cr Altair said Latitude helps address an individual’s homelessness by offering food, clothing and blankets and works with young people to resolve the issues that have led the young person to be homeless.
“I encourage the community to dig deep and help Latitude continue their important work, with the added bonus of having Cr Grigorovitch and I sleeping on a couch together in the foyer of the Civic Centre.”
The sleep out will take place on 13 August. People can sponsor the councillors to support Latitude and the important work they do.
