Lake Heights Public School’s 140 students happily dressed up to keep warm and show their support for Wollongong Homeless Hub’s third annual Wrap Up Homelessness campaign.

Hub manager Julie Mitchell said some 15 schools in the region were supporting the initiative to raise awareness about the plight of homeless people in our community and raise funds for the Wollongong Homeless Hub.

Funds raised will assist the hub to support its clients and provide such things as care packages, meals, shelter, sleeping bags and tents.

‘’Sleeping rough is difficult but it is even more difficult in the colder weather,’’ Mrs Mitchell said.

‘’That’s why Wrap up Homelessness is held throughout June. The aim is to raise awareness in our community and to raise awareness about the number [1500] of homeless who are out there in Wollongong/Illawarra.

‘’Currently we have 175 people coming into the hub who are rough sleeping or sleeping non-conventional ways….living in their cars, in tents, park benches or on the beach.’’

Wollongong Homeless Hub stats:

Mrs Mitchell said it was great to involve students in the campaign.

‘’They are doing a number of projects around homelessness. We also have schools come to the hub and visit because kids are really wanting to know about the issues in our community and to assist,’’ she said.

‘’They are great caring little members of our community.

‘’And, children often can have great insight into issues that we overlook. They look at them with fresh eyes.They don’t often make the judgements that adults make about homeless people.’’

Lake Heights Public School teacher Teagan Hunter said students were ‘’shocked’’ at how many people are homeless.

‘’They just want to help any way they can,’’ she said.

Funds raised can be directly deposited into the hub’s bank account – account name: Wollongong Emergency Family Housing, BSB: 633-000, account number: 142496728.