SYDNEY is a city of contrasts — one of the most liveable cities, it is also the fifth most expensive city in the world to live in, according to the latest Economist Intelligence Unit's Worldwide Cost of Living Survey.
Our city is beautiful, affluent and cultured, but the streets of our city are home to many of the most vulnerable members of our society.
Anglicare Sydney research has recently revealed that welfare recipients and low-income earners are being priced out of the rental property market.
There are more than 105,000 homeless people in Australia, 28,000 in NSW.
More than 40 per cent are under 25.
These people with problems, including mental illnesses, are surviving as best they can without the social support they need to get them off the streets.
It is a situation difficult for any one individual to remedy — but an individual certainly can get out there and make a difference, even if it is one drop of water in the harbour.
On the first Friday each month, Frank Langford, from Riverside Church, heads to Kings Cross with a crew of volunteers to hand out much-needed basic items to the homeless.
Each month sees a new and eclectic group of community volunteers, from children as young as four with their parents, to young adults, right up to retirees.
Local schools such as Danebank Anglican School for Girls, Blakehurst, Sylvania and Peakhurst high schools are all involved.
The Police and Community Youth Club, Sutherland, donate the use of a bus, and everyone climbs aboard and departs from Pastor Langford's home in Hurstville.
Pastor Langford said the project started off "in the hearts of our young people".
"I challenged our youth group to come up with something community focused.
"And the leadership at that time came back and said: 'Let's see if we can do something for the homeless'.
"And I just thought it was a brilliant idea."
The bus departs at 7pm and within about 45 minutes an average of $1500 worth of goods is passed into the appreciative hands of the homeless, who line up and take what they need.
"In four years, there has never been a problematic incident, and it's a great experience for kids who can get out and engage in an active way with people in their community who are less fortunate," Pastor Langford said.
Donations can include bedrolls, sleeping bags and jumpers.
"We will take second-hand clothes . . . but we encourage people to donate a pair of jeans, a sloppy joe, a packet of underwear, thick socks, books, toothpaste and toothbrush, which are all under $10.
"Ninety-five per cent of the goods we give are brand new, because we want to express to these homeless people that they are important to us, that we respect them and we value them, and that we want to make their lives a little bit more bearable."
Riverside Church meets at Oatley Public School every Sunday at 10am for services.
Anyone interested in donating goods or volunteering for the Kings Cross program is welcome to visit.
"It's just wonderful," Pastor Langford said. "Sometimes people come once and we never see them again, but they've had a glimpse of what life is like on the streets, and that's great."
Details: Pastor Langford, 0409 785 072 or
