Photo: Mission Australia’s Scott Ryan serves passerby Megumi Sakamoto.
Free soup was on the menu at Mission Australia’s main street office as Homelessness Week 2025 kicked off.
Case worker Scott Ryan cooked up his chicken and vegetable masterpiece for all comers on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 July.
The team gave out up to 50 cups of soup over the two days.
“It’s a really good conversation starter,” Mission Australia Project Manager Dylan Crawley said.
“There’s not a lot of awareness around homelessness and what it looks like in our community.
“Often in the past, it’s been a bit of a hidden issue where are people living in overcrowded accommodation or couch surfing, people staying in cars.”
“It’s also encouraging that there’s early intervention support where people reach out before they’re in crisis, like if they’ve got an eviction notice or they’re at risk of eviction and may need some support with maintaining their current housing options.”
Mission Australia is the main organisation working with the homeless in the Coonamble district and can provide emergency assistance including food relief, as well as support with paying power bills and rental arrears.
The issue has become more visible in Coonamble over the recent months, where, unlike previous years, rough sleepers have been seen in parks, carparks and other public areas.
The town currently has no crisis accommodation.
However, youth service provider REDI.E (Regional Enterprise Development Institute) says they have been developing three rooms above their youth centre for domestic violence and homelessness.
It had been scheduled to open in July, although REDI.E’s Youth, Family and First Nations Language Services General Manager, Kevin Jones, said they “would be tracking for an opening in the coming month.”
“We are working to ensure that we obtain quotes from at least two providers for any work done,” he said.
“This will mean that we have to, at times, work with trades people from Dubbo or other surrounding areas.
“Also ensuring that the space feels safe and welcome for participants has been our priority. We want to get this as right as we can.”
The Indigenous-owned organisation has not yet said what age range the bedrooms will house.
Crim safe screens have been installed and Mr Jones said wall painting has been completed.
He also said they have ordered furnishing and are in the process of renovating the floor.
“We’re going to get some comforting furniture because we don’t want it to feel like a hotel,” Mr Jones said.
The registered charity received around $165,000 for the renovations, excluding GST.
The facility will not be staffed 24/7, although Mr Jones said that around $30,000 of the grant will be used to pay an on-call staff member.
That worker will be able to induct tenants and carry out intakes.
Mr Jones also said there will be house rules to keep tenants safe.
Homelessness Week ran from 4-10 July.