HOMELESSNESS is often just a symptom of a slew of other issues.
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Mental health, domestic violence, disability, drug and alcohol abuse, even housing affordability and employment. And, in the last financial year Tamworth Family Support Service has helped just under 1000 people sleeping rough.
It's a reduction from last year, but it's taken longer to get people back on their feet, TFSS business development manager Leigh Smith said.
"The stigma around homelessness is huge, mental health and domestic violence and that prevents people coming forward," he said. That's where the Homeless Connect Day steps in.
It's a one-stop-shop for people in crisis to connect with services, have a chat, a free meal and even a haircut and started in Tamworth about eight years ago.
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Evidence shows the shorter the crisis period the easier it is to re-engage someone with the system, Mr Smith said. "What we try and do is prevent it in the first place," he said.
The event is on Thursday July 25 at TRECC from 10am to 2pm, with free buses to and from the event.