Tanya Busfy, Lilia Da Silva and Sandra McGreavey from Helping Hands Cockburn.
Camera IconTanya Busfy, Lilia Da Silva and Sandra McGreavey from Helping Hands Cockburn. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Scarves in Fremantle to raise awareness of homelessness

Bryce LuffFremantle Gazette

Yangebup woman Sandra McGreavey, founder of social media page Helping Hands Cockburn, said the idea was to offer a scarf to people who are homeless, people who do not have a scarf and even those who have forgotten it on the day.

“We want to raise awareness about homelessness and do it in a quirky way that gets people talking,” she said.

“I saw something similar run in the US and thought it would be good to try here.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“There are a number of homeless people in Fremantle so I thought we should start here.

“Hopefully it inspires others to help where they can.”

A recent Anglicare WA report found one in four West Australians had been touched by homelessness, while one in 10 had been homeless themselves at one point.

Chief executive Ian Carter said the problem was growing.

“The affordability and availability of housing in Western Australia is a growing crisis,” he said.

“The impact of this crisis is affecting more and more of our families.”

The Australian Red Cross believes up to 7 per cent or 1.5 million people will be considered isolated or very isolated this year.

Chief executive Robert Tickner said the number of homeless or people at risk of becoming homeless, those with mental health issues and disadvantaged families needing help was increasing.

“The number of people who need our help continues to grow each year and Red Cross is finding it more and more difficult to attract the support we need to do this vital work,” he said.

The Red Cross is currently running a donation drive to continue its work.