Volunteers from Benalla’s Welcome Place Winter Night Shelter are working hard this week to ensure strategies are in place to support its guests as the shelter wraps up for the end of winter.
Benalla Homelessness Response Group president Kate Holmes said the shelter opened its doors in Benalla for the first time at the beginning of July, in response to the hardship faced by community members experiencing homelessness.
“While the shelter volunteers would love to see the program extended, it is also important to recognise the hard work and commitment of over 50 community members who have volunteered their time for the duration of winter to offer this support,” Ms Holmes said.
“Some volunteers have taken on multiple shifts each week to ensure the shelter doors remained open.
“We are supporting guests to link in with homelessness services, mental health supports and other organisations who can offer assistance.
“These efforts have become a full-time process for some ... as we prepare for the end of winter.”
Although the shelter will close, the support and social connections made will continue with the return of the Welcome Kitchen Community Meals.
The kitchen will set up in the car park under Benalla Library from Sunday, September 7, serving meals and providing a socially inclusive and safe, caring space for the most vulnerable and isolated in the community.
With the return of spring and warmer weather, the Benalla Homelessness Response Group will also be offering the next instalment of training for community members.
Accidental Counsellor and safeTALK Suicide Alert training, delivered by the Anxiety Recovery Centre of Victoria, will be offered free of charge thanks to funding through Benalla Rural City’s Social Inclusion Action Group and the Tomorrow Today Foundation.
Tomorrow Today’s Sally Matheson said its goal was to make Benalla a stronger, more resilient community.
Which is why it supported this training with a $5000 grant.
“The work that Kate and her group are doing is just that in a nutshell,” Ms Matheson said.
“This training is critical for volunteers who are working with vulnerable people.
“It ensures they’re equipped with the right skills to deal with people who are in really vulnerable situations.”
Ms Holmes said the support of Tomorrow Today and other local organisations had been invaluable.
“Skills development programs offered through our organisation are a way of giving back to volunteers, building community resilience and supporting everyday people to be able to respond to hardship and homelessness,” Ms Holmes said.
Accidental Counsellor training is a full-day course running on September 6, 9am to 5pm.
SafeTALK Suicide Alert training will run on the evening of Wednesday, September 3 from 6pm to 9pm.
Participants must register to attend and can email their interest to welcomeplacenightshelter@gmail.com or visit Facebook @Benalla Homelessness Response Group - BHRG Inc and scroll for the posts with registration links.
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