Rough message on homelessness

By EMMA SUN
MOUNT Evelyn resident and Yarra Ranges councillor Tim Heenan will be sleeping rough for 30 nights to raise awareness of homelessness.
Cr Heenan will pitch a cardboard tent at Melba Park in Lilydale and stay in it for at least eight hours per night after sleeping for seven and 16 days in past years.
He said he hoped he would generate conversation about homelessness during his month-long fight and encourage people to write to politicians to ask about what more can be done in the community.
“I want to ram it down people’s throats for the next four weeks,” he said.
“It’s not about raising money for myself, it’s about promoting relief centres in the area such as Anchor Community Care and the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service (DRERS) and I will be highlighting every organisation.”
Cr Heenan encouraged people who wanted to help to donate to Anchor or DRERS directly and fight against homelessness once and for all.
“Too many people sleep rough each night,” he said.
“We need to understand this is going to be an emerging issue and we need to deal with it.”
Cr Heenan will document his progress through his Facebook page and Twitter (@CouncillorTim).