Winter woollies callout

With the winter months approaching and Newcastle in the grips of a housing crisis, homelessness services are asking for donations of winter woollies and warm clothing for those in need.

All community donations will be distributed to Nova for Women and Children, Jenny’s Place, and the Matthew Talbot Homeless service.

Along with the blankets, beanies, gloves and other winter woollies, Matthew Talbot Homeless service is also seeking donations of men’s shoes.

State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said his office had become a donation collection point after he was approached by community members who had looked for ways to help.

“I’ve had quite a few enquiries about what people can do to help, and after speaking with the services, they’ve expressed that they will find these winter items useful,” Crakanthorp said.

“It may seem like a small gesture in the big scheme of things, but these items will help both people without housing and those who have secured properties but find them poorly-insulated or draughty.”

Donations can be taken to Crakanthorp’s office at 414 Hunter St, Newcastle, between 9 am and 4.30 pm on weekdays until the end of May.

According to the Real Estate Institute of NSW’s latest survey, Newcastle’s residential rental vacancy is currently the lowest of the state’s major cities at just 0.7 per cent.

Local homelessness services have also described the situation as the worst they have ever seen.

_{Information source: Media release, May 10, State MP Tim Crakanthorp}