By Margaret Maccoll
Ending homelessness, skilling young people for employment and reducing domestic violence were key messages delivered on Saturday at the Take a Stand #Together for Safer Families event at Noosaville Lions Park.
Organised by not-for-profit organisation United Synergies, the event brought together support services to recognise Domestic and Family Violence Protection Month in May.
Visitors enjoyed food and entertainment while support groups including United Synergies, Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, Daniel Morcombe Foundation, Zonta and the Queensland Police Service offered advice on the day.
Sue Stack from St Vincent de Paul said there were 60 to 70 homeless people in the Noosa area on any given night. High rents, low vacancy rates and high costs of living combined to create the situation, she said.
“We were giving food to one woman recently who was living in her car. She needed an operation on her arm and couldn’t afford rent as well,” she said.
Sally-Anne Clark from the Salvation Army said they had limited crisis accommodation available for people in need, while Kevin Raynor was offering practical help to gain employment through its Helping Aspiring Baristas Find Jobs eight-week training program.
