One cold winter night last year that Tina Zalakos wondered, ‘where are the homeless people right now?’
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That thought has spurred the Nowra woman on to help local homeless people and while she provides meals every Tuesday with the Nowra Baptist Church and other community members, Mrs Zalakos wants more temporary accommodation options in times of bad weather.
The recent icy temperatures and gale force winds have hit hard and those who have nowhere to call home are suffering.
“The saddest thing to me was when the east coast low was happening our council announced they were opening the stables at the Showground for people to take their horses for safety,” she said.
“Don't get me wrong, I love horses but people matter much more.
“Why didn't the council invite our homeless to be sheltered?”
While the Nowra Baptist Church is on school grounds and can’t be used as a shelter, Mrs Zalakos hopes vacant council property and businesses can be made available.
“The council own so much land around town that’s vacant. Surely we could put up some comfortable prefab accommodation that we could use for providing meals in normal times but can be used to put down swags in bad weather,” she said.
“Don't get me wrong, I love horses but people matter much more. Why didn't the council invite our homeless to be sheltered?”
- -Tina Zalakos
Mrs Zalakos has been working with the Homeless Hub since last year and is willing to help volunteer at emergency sites, along with other church members.
She said preconceived notions of homeless people have been a barrier to helping ease their plight.
“I hate it when they say ‘the homeless,’ she said.
“They’re homeless people and since we’ve been serving lunch, we’ve never seen anything but perfect behaviour.
“They understand where we’re coming from, we don’t have to be there but we do it because we want to. They’re our guests and we provide flowers and proper table clothes and a three course meal. We love them and we treat them like our family.”
Mrs Zalakos said church members have also knitted scarves and beanies and donated 45 blankets and bags of food to the Homeless Hub.
One member even made 20 quilts with waterproof backing to go under sleeping bags.
“Our church counts it a privilege to be involved with these people who have become our friends,” she said.
“We do hear their stories but we don’t ask any questions. We build trust and we’re there to listen.”
Mrs Zalakos hopes Mayor Joanna Gash’s recent call for a meeting of government, church leaders and community housing to discuss emergency accommodation will provide results.
“We had some meetings last year, there was lots of talking but nothing eventuated,” she said.
“I’m hoping this meeting brings some actual change.”