THE mayor and deputy mayor of Hobsons Bay will sleep out on a couch at the Hobsons Bay Civic Centre to raise money and awareness for local youth homeless charity Latitude: Directions for Young People.
Launched at the Altona Beach Festival, the organisation hopes to raise $5000 to support young people aged 15 to 25 who are at risk of experiencing homelessness in Hobsons Bay.
To help reach the target, mayor Angela Altair and Cr Luba Grigorovitch will sleep ‘rough’ for one night during National Youth Week.
“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,” said Cr Grigorovitch.
“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. Some young people live this way for two or three years at a time.
“If Cr Altair and I raising money and sleeping out on a couch together for one night can put this and other types of homelessness in the spotlight, it will be well worth any discomfort.”
The mayor said she was more than happy to support Latitude and thanked the organisation for maximising
young people’s ability to fully participate in the community.
“While Latitude helps address an individual’s homelessness by offering food, clothing and blankets, they also work with young people to resolve the issues that have led the young person to be homeless,” Cr Altair said.
“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.”
Latitude: Directions for Young People Manager Rhonda Collins said 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.
To donate, contact Latitude on 9315 0061.
