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Swag donation helps homeless

Swag donation helps homeless

Nearly half Bunbury’s homeless population will sleep more soundly thanks to the donation of 10 swags for National Homeless Persons Week.

For the second year running Access Housing donated Backpack Beds, made by Swags for the Homeless to the Intown Centre.

The Intown Centre will collaborate with other services to identify people to give the swags to.

About 25 people are sleeping rough in Bunbury, with another 35 "couch surfing".

Leanne Gibbs from the Intown Centre said she knew of four or five people who were given swags last year still using them in Bunbury.

She said the swags lasted well, but was realistic that due to heavy use they would not last forever.

“We will never have enough for everyone, but we endeavour to lessen the number of people who fall through the cracks,” she said.

Access Housing tenancy services manager Matina Aitken said housing and welfare services in the South West collaborated well with organisations referring people to each other.

Each Backpack Bed weighed less than 3kg, complete with its foam mattress.

The donated swags cost $77 each and roll into a backpack that had room spare for other personal belongings.

Bags given out in the past were made of canvas which made them heavy and difficult to clean.

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