By JOLENE OGLE
ALMOST 30 homeless youths will sleep a little less rough this winter, thanks to the generous donation of roll-up swags to the Coast’s only youth homeless shelter.
Suncoast Community Telco, a locally based communications company who returns profits back in to the community, donated $3000 to the Integrated Family and Youth Services (IFYS) team who bought 29 roll-out swags for their youth homeless shelter.
The swags are insulated with a thin mattress for comfort and built-in bag to secure belongings that can all be rolled-up into a backpack for transporting.
Suncoast Community Telco’s Ron Strong said the swags were easy to use as they simply roll out and could be packed away in a matter of minutes.
IFYS youth homeless shelter co-ordinator Tania Larter said homelessness was an issue throughout the entire Sunshine Coast including Noosa, with youths coming to the shelter from all over the coast to stay in the six-bed facility.
“We’re the only youth crisis accommodation available from Gympie to Caboolture,” she said.
“We’re nearly always full and the people coming to us can stay for three months.”
Tania said the swags would be a “massive” help to the young people who were sleeping rough across the Coast.
“Many teenagers are couch surfing at friend’s houses, but that doesn’t last forever,” she said.
“They’re in and out of accommodation. But the swags are great as it gives them another option if the couch surfing runs out.”
IFYS managing director Tony Pignata said helping the community was what they did and they were constantly looking for ways to help.
“This is a brilliant donation from Suncoast Community Telco as homelessness on the coast is a major issue,” he said.
“Children under 12 make up 17 per cent of people sleeping rough in Australia,” he said.
“Youths aged 12 to 18 make up 10 per cent. That means more than a quarter of all homeless people are under 18.”
Tania said the most common reason for teenagers to find themselves homeless was a breakdown in family life.
“Families breaking down are the most common reason for youths to come to the shelter or to be homeless,” she said.
Tania said the swags would be given to youths in need with the hope they would pass them onto others when they no longer needed the swag.
“The Coast is a tight knit community, so we believe the swags will be passed on and help many other people who need them,” she said.
