Coast Shelter addresses Woy Woy Rotary
Coast Shelter has told the Rotary Club of Woy Woy about its work with people experiencing homelessness and domestic and family violence.
Marketing manager Ms Erin Maxwell and events manager Ms Emma Richomme gave the club a brief history, said club president Mr Tom McCann.
"Coast Shelter has been established for 32 years, originally set up to feed the homeless living under the Brian McGowan Bridge in Gosford."
He said the club was told there had always been a huge demand for the services that Coast Shelter provide.
"This year there has been a 52 per cent increase in that demand."
He said Coast aimed to break the cycle of poverty and intergenerational despair and disadvantage.
"Coast Shelter has grown into an organisation tackling the issues of homelessness, family and domestic violence, and poverty across the NSW Central Coast.
"Over the last 30 years, it has grown from one refuge in Gosford into a community housing provider with 10 specialist homelessness services.
"They also work in conjunction with organisations such as Love Bites, going into schools to begin early education of students regarding attitudes and bullying.
"The immediate need is for a separate, therapeutic area for private consultations, one on one.
"The intention is for a separate building to be constructed at the rear of one of the current properties for that purpose and then once up and running look to construct more rooms at their other refuges on the Central Coast."
Mr McCann said: "It is a worthy cause for us and many other clubs and associations to look at supporting.
"It is something that the Rotary Club of Woy Woy can work toward achieving with assistance from the coming Opera in the Arboretum."
SOURCE:
Newsletter, 5 Nov 2024
Tom McCann, Rotary Woy Woy