The 2009 Hunter Homeless Connect day way a huge success with over 1500 people attending. The atmosphere in the room was amazing. Everywhere you looked people had smile's on their faces and you could tell how much they appreciated what was being done for them.

Several different kinds of items were their for each person or family to take away which included clothes, bikes, blankets, food hampers, toiletry bags, birth certificates, phone cards and so much more. Toiletry bags were very popular and were gone within the first 30 mins. It kind of looked like the show because everyone was walking around with their bags of goodies in their hands and were really excited to be there.

There was a BBQ running all day and lunch was provided which included chicken and fruit salad. The hairdressers were working non-stop with their appoinment book full they had up to 12 staff working at one time. It was such a joy to see the look on someones face after they had their hair done. One lady had not had a hair cut for 7 years. Manicures, pedicures, facials and massages were also very popular.

The Health Hub were busy giving immunisations and check ups all day as well as providing many other services. The Housing Hub were giving TICA checks, providing information and booking later appointments for individual or families to come see them at their organistations. There was a huge range of services and information provided including Women's Resources, Youth, Health, Legal, Debt management, Housing, Aboriginal services, human services and welfare & Emergency.

Activities and entertainment was provided though out the day including Street Soccer, boxing, First aid lessons, Internet Cafe, Bag and box making, painitng a mural and music.

Overall the day was a great achievement and many people in the Hunter who do not always get to treat themselves to the things that some of us take for granted got to be pampered and fussed over and gave us the oppotrunity to show them that there is help out there and people do really care.

Click the link below to view some articles and footage of the day in 2009:

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/11/26/2754613.htm?site=newcastle

http://www.nbntv.com.au/index.php?s=homeless+connect

hunterhomelessness.org.au/Homeless connect article.pdf

For a copy of the 2009 evaluation report prepared by TAFE please click the following link hunterhomelessness.org.au/HHCD evaluation.doc

The final 2009 HHCD newsletter is included in the latest Bank of IDEAS newsletter, sent to thousands of subscribers in 82 countries around the world: http://www.bankofideas.com.au/newsletter_frames.html

The message from founder and director of Bank of IDEAS (Initiatives for the Development of Enterprising Actions & Strategies): "I have put it in our newsletter as it is an incredible example of community power - an idea people have to hear about across the globe."