Winter Deepens Homelessness Struggles; Tweed Heads Charity Struggles to Keep Up

By Sarah Waters

A blanket is the difference between life and death for someone who is forced to live on the streets during winter, says Theresa Mitchell.

Mrs Mitchell is all too aware of the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness, especially as the temperature starts to drop.

As the founder of Agape Outreach in Tweed Heads she has helped thousands of people in the Tweed-Byron region since 2009.

Agape provides homeless and vulnerable people with meals and clothing and also links them to support services.

This month, Agape launched its annual Winter Appeal to provide further support and comfort for those less fortunate.

The public are asked to help by donating blankets, tents, tarps, warm clothing and footwear.

Mrs Mitchell said warm and waterproof items made all the difference for people in need during winter.

“We have some really old, fragile, vulnerable people that are going to be sleeping in the elements,” she said.

“Just imagine if it was your grandma that was out there sleeping under a bridge at wintertime.

“It would be wonderful to be in a position to pay for some of these people to sleep in motels.”

The public are asked to donate warm and waterproof clothing to Agape’s Winter Appeal to help people living on the streets

With homelessness and housing insecurity at an all time high, Agape Outreach have experienced more demand for their services than ever.

The charity makes – and distributes – 1000 meals each week to people in the Tweed-Byron region and even throughout the Gold Coast.

On average,150 people come into the centre each day in need of food, clothing or sometimes a friendly and supportive face to talk to.

Mrs Mitchell said there has been a noticeable increase in the number of families, women and young people coming in for help.

And it’s not necessarily just because they are sleeping on the streets.

Many of them need help with food because the cost of living is so high, and others need warmer clothing because they can’t afford their energy bills.

“There’s so many different elements to poverty,” Mrs Mitchell said.

“We’ve got so many people with housing insecurity – if not homeless – and so many more people facing homelessness.

“There’s not just food insecurity, there’s electricity insecurity and of course it all impacts on people’s mental health as well… the mental health out there is really bad because people are not coping.

“They are not getting housing, not enough food and nutrition … they can’t pay the bills and things are unfortunately getting worse.”

Theresa Mitchell founded Agape Outreach in Tweed Heads in 2009

Mrs Mitchell is studying clinical psychology so she can help people with their mental health when they come to Agape.

She is currently five years into her study and is working towards completing her master’s degree.

Since she founded Agape 15 years ago, it has grown to a team of 270 volunteers and five paid staff members.

In addition to providing meals and clothing, Agape helps people access NDIS, housing, legal and medical services, runs a psychology department and hosts sessions in life skills and wellbeing.

The organisation is entirely community funded and rescues more than two tonnes of edible food per week.

With the growing need for the charity’s services, Mrs Mitchell said she hopes the government will step in and help out a bit.

“We don’t have money to go beyond the 1000 meals a week that we make.

“We’ve had to turn some people away, sadly, and that will probably increase.

“But you know, we’re not funded, we have to fundraise for every dollar – we’re just keeping our heads above water.”

If you can help out with donations for Agape’s Winter Appeal please drop them into Agape Outreach at 56 Recreation Street, Tweed Heads. Another option is to donate funds and Agape will purchase items on your behalf, please phone: 07 5293 7154. For more information, please visit here.

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