STORIES FROM THE STREETS WEBSITE & FORUM ENQUIRIES - EMAIL: enquiries@friendsofthestreet.org.au Mob: 0415073540
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WHO
ARE
'FRIENDS
OF THE STREET' We
are every day people, neighbours, friends and the
business sector that
have come together to help those in the Community
suffering
serioushardship. Checking parks and
gardens, behind
waste bins, businesses and shops..Looking after the 'faceless
people' The
homeless men, women and children and those that feel
forgotten amongst our community.....The greater
percentage being
Aboriginal/Torres Straight Islander, Supplying warm
blankets and dry
clothes, to make sure they have enough
meds for their
medical problem they might have.. I've been on the other end where i needed help and there was none. I've lived in a cardboard box and in doorways, abused as a child 'wardie' of the state, and no-one cared. Met and shared some life with murderers and child killers, rapists, and tough guys, prostitutes and corrupt police....none of it was overly good...but it was all a life learning experience, and most of these people had a nice side to them.....warped as it sounds..because life's just not that black and white....it's who people really are that's important....not just the bad things they may do... "Is it dangerous 'out there'?" For those on the the streets?..yes it can be..more so towards the cities where some Homeless suffer violence by those with nothing better to do than create further hardship issues for people that just want to be left alone.. Take care all... Phill... Founder - Chairman Friends Of The Street. Qld Australia. |
| STORIES FROM
THE STREET The stories below are true...they involve real people in desperate situations. All names and places have been edited. |
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THE
OTHER
END
OF
THE PHONE:
I'M GONNA TOP MESELF! That's what this 57 yr old fella on the other end of the phone said to me...he was near a bridge over a river and contemplating what he saw as a hopeless future.. He'd lost his wife of many years to cancer 10 years ago...he lost his job through the depression of it all, he lost the house, ran out friends couches to sleep on, and now it's just him and his old dog of 16 years that he is now looking at 'putting down' because he can't look after it any more, let alone himself.. After a longgg chat, He finally changed his mind and we found him somewhere temporary to live, some food..a bit of company......but sadly his old friend will probably have to move on upstairs..whats wrong with society today?..people just don't seem to care about others as they should...and it's really starting to piss me off..there are no services around here for homeless issues...those with the power to do something about it agrees with all the needs, but thats where it ends... ..........more important issues to deal with...crap.. LETTERS AND MAIL: December 2010 I would like to give this letter in support of an excellent and extremely valuable service that is currently running in my community. On the
4th of December 2010 i found myself in a
terrible financial position, due to the recent national
bank melt down.
As a result i had no funds to supply my family with essential medications and food. My
daughter had recent spinal surgery
and desperately required medication, i was at
a loss of how
to obtain funds to get this especially as it was a
Saturday and all
charity organisations are closed.
A friend
informed me that there a charity
called Friends of the Street that maybe able to help
me...
I contacted this
organisation
immediatly.. I was responded to that same day, i was
very surprised.
Not only did they help to to supply my desperate medical needs they supplied me with enough food to get me through till i paid paid the following week. Since that day i was also informed that a Christmas hamper would be delivered to me just to help for christmas, that was such a wonderful surprise and a relief as Christmas is such a financial struggle. I am extremely grateful for this help as there was nothing else out there to help me. Friends of the Street will be a valuable service to our community and i hope it will continue... (name withheld for confidential reasons) A morayfield mum. December
2010
To Whom it may concern. I am a single mum of five and a grandmother of seven. My eldest daughter is in hospital and i am looking after her five children, I rang several organisations today, non of which could help, then i was given the number for Fots, within hours they arrived with nappies, food and clothing, if it wasn't for friends of the street, i don't know what i would have done. sincerely (name withheld for confidential reasons) Caboolture Mum To
it may concern.
My partner an i struggle from fortnight to fortnight to put food on the table, we have had to ring friends of the street for help with food. we have had to go to court for personal problems and phill was there to give support, my partner and I have known phill for 17 months and he is the only one who have done anythnig for us both. morayfield couple. Keep up the good work Friends of the Street. From a very grateful mum to people that give their all to help anytime. You offered me coffee and cookies, but more than that you offered me good advice. You said to pick my most important issue and fix that first and forget about the rest as they will fall into place, I just wanted to show you that i did take your advice, and things are much better. Thankyou for being there. Your friend (name withheld for confidential reasons) Thankful mum FROM OUT ON THE STREETS: ........... |