As Australia marks Homelessness Week, it’s worth remembering that homelessness doesn’t always live where we expect to find it.

As the temperature drops on a winter night, home for some people is not a house, a unit or even a caravan.

It is a tent tucked away along the river, hidden from view. Others may spend the night on a friend’s couch, in a car or in temporary accommodation.

“Homelessness takes a lot of different views and pictures,” Moira FoodShare co-ordinator James Rouel said.

“Many people think they can recognise a homeless person. There’s this stereotype that it’s someone sleeping rough on the streets, but that may not be the case.”

Over the past four years, James has watched demand for food relief grow dramatically, giving him a unique insight into the many faces of homelessness.

“When I first started I helped a lot of older people on the pension, but now it’s across the board — all ages and situations,” he said.

“There used to be a lot of stigma. People thought they weren’t managing their money, or were spending it on alcohol, drugs or gambling. But genuinely, you can be doing everything right and still just not make ends meet.”

For some, the path into homelessness begins with domestic violence.

James recalls helping a woman who fled violence with her children. She had reached safety, but the challenges were only beginning.

“She didn’t have a car, no phone, no way of getting a job and not many services around her,” he said.

“We could deliver food once a week. We couldn’t do everything, but we could help.”

The hidden faces of homelessness extend well beyond stories such as these.

James has heard reports that around 1000 people are living along both sides of the river system throughout the district.

“That’s nearly a township in itself,” he said.

“They live in tents, swags, and a lot know each other.”

Many choose to remain out of sight because that is where they feel safest. Women and children experiencing homelessness are often even less visible, seeking refuge in cars, temporary accommodation or with family and friends.

Community shower programs offer one small piece of dignity for people living rough.

For many people, homelessness is not the result of one life-changing event, but a series of pressures that slowly become overwhelming.

Rising rents, mortgage repayments, grocery prices and the increasing cost of living can leave families, pensioners and individuals living on the edge, where one unexpected expense may push them into homelessness.

“You can be doing everything right and still just not make ends meet,” James said.

Once someone loses secure housing, the challenges multiply.

Finding another rental without a bond, references or a rental history can be almost impossible.

Without a stable address, finding work becomes harder. Preparing for an interview and simply turning up each day clean, presentable and ready for work are hurdles many people take for granted.

“It’s a cycle, and it’s hard to know how to break that,” James said.

“It’s a big problem. It’s a sad problem.”

Pride can make that cycle even harder to escape.

“People are proud,” James said.

In a small community, asking for help can be one of the hardest steps to take. Many worry they will be judged or that others will see them differently.

“You never know what is happening behind closed doors,” James said.

James describes FoodShare as “a band-aid”.

“We’re about getting food on the table today,” he said.

“We're a quick fix.”

Providing food gives people breathing space while they begin navigating the longer journey ahead.

FoodShare connects people with Cobram Community House, Cobram Family Financial Services and other agencies to help them through what can be a confronting system — obtaining identification, accessing Centrelink, applying for housing and rebuilding their lives.

FoodShare also provides a weekly hot meal.

“A lot of people don’t get one hot meal a day,” James said.

The meals offer more than nourishment. They also provide a chance to connect with others and learn about support services.

Demand has grown from helping around 900 people each month to supporting up to 6000 across the district in just four years.

Behind that growth is a dedicated team of around 70 volunteers.

“Our volunteers are the backbone of FoodShare — 100 per cent,” James said.

FoodShare receives valued support from Moira and Berrigan shire councils and, after four years of advocacy, has recently secured its first Victorian Government funding.

James also acknowledges the generosity of the Cobram community, whose donations and ongoing support have helped FoodShare respond to the growing demand.

Even so, securing ongoing funding remains the organisation’s greatest challenge if FoodShare is to continue supporting people into the future.

Despite the pressures, James says the work is rewarding.

“It’s very fulfilling,” he said.

James knows FoodShare cannot solve homelessness, but each day it can make life a little easier by putting food on the table while people begin finding their way forward.

“It would be a scary situation if there was no FoodShare,” he said.

After four years working alongside people facing hardship, he has come to one simple conclusion.

“No-one knows what anyone is going through,” he said.

“Kindness is free.”

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Saturday, 4th June 2033

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