Candlelit vigil for women's homelessness shelters

Thursday 24 July

Candlelit vigil to restore NSW Women’s Homelessness Shelters

In order to shine a light on the state wide closure of independent women’s homelessness services, a candlelit vigil is being held by university students.

Due to take place on the 24^th of July, the vigil hopes to gain attention through the visual and symbolic spectacle of gathering by candlelight, as well as signing petitions for the reinstatement of these vital services.

Due to the reforms under the incumbent Staying Home, Going Home program, which shakes-up the way funding is provided to shelters, six of Sydney’s women’s refuges, including it’s only girls shelter, are facing closure.

The vigil has been organised with particular concern for the welfare of women already at risk of homelessness, such as victims of domestic violence, or those from culturally diverse backgrounds.

The organisation, Students for Women’s Only Services, is hoping to collect 10 000 signatures for a petition being submitted to state parliament at the end of August, which asks for the restoration of all funding to women-specific homelessness services.

Convener of the Asian Australian Alliance Women’s Forum and spokesperson for Students for Women’s Only Services, Anjana Regmi, says that, “the changes will mean women will fail to access support due to loss of expertise and community rapport.”

Come along to support the restoration of crucial homelessness services for women in NSW.

• The candlelit vigil is being held on Thursday, 24 July at Pitt Street Mall, Sydney at 5.30pm.