The Pathfinders organisation which helps homeless people is moving to squash rumours that it has downgraded its work in Glen Innes.
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It recently ended one particular programme for young people who present severe difficulties. The service is being provided by another group.
But the organisation’s chief executive, Alan Brennan, said: “I felt it was important to clarify that we are not leaving, we are staying and we are expanding.”
It had recently taken over the empty Royal Hotel on Grey Street to turn it into a Pathfinders centre.
It’s planning a centre there for homeless people to get them on their feet so they can move back out into the wider community.
At the moment, there are people, particularly young people, who don’t own homes and can’t rent because they have no track record of renting.
The plan is for Pathfinders to rent them accomodation for three or six months – long enough for the tenant to establish a record of paying bills so private landlords will then be able to rely on payments when they take private sector accommodation.
As a way of showing its support for Glen Innes, Pathfinders will be giving out pumpkins and pumpkin soup outside the Town Hall on Thursday morning.
It has been holding its annual “Pumpkin Run” between Tamworth and Sydney under which 10 tonnes of pumpkins grown by young people at its Tilbuster Station working farm have been distributed to people in need.
Glen Innes gets the pumpkins from 10 am.
The Glen Innes Pumpkin Run will also be used as a platform for Pathfinders to reaffirm its commitment.
- Pathfinders statement
