'You don't get a break from homelessness': Wayside Chapel prepares for Christmas juliepower
After years of showering in the old "clattery" showers at the Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross, regular Lani McLachlan rated the new facilities as clean, stylish and "very metro".
For many of Wayside's guests, Christmas was far from a joyful time of family and connection, Wayside Chapel pastor Jon Owen said. "It could equally be called the festival of anxiety."At a time when people who were homeless were in greater need than usual, many other services closed for an annual break, he said. Unlike many non-profits, Wayside stays open every day of the year.
"The number one reason why people are homeless is because of breakdown of family and community. This time of year reinforces the sense of being unloved and unwanted. We see increased violence, and Christmas Day is the crescendo of it all with the highest levels of admission to A&E, which highlights the dark-side of Christmas."has given their visitors more than lunch for Christmas. It has renovated the showers that are used about 500 times a week.
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