26 September 2023

Police bed down to support homeless

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Queensland Police Service (QPS) donated 75 items of bedding to charitable organisation, Beddown in support of National Homelessness Week last week.

QPS Commissioner Katarina Carroll said supporting Queensland’s homeless population was a priority for all QPS members.

“When you get to know the people in these circumstances, so many of them have led extraordinary lives and have fallen on hard times before landing on the streets,” Commissioner Carroll said.

“The individuals within our homeless population are part of our communities, and we all play a part in making their lives safer.”

She said it was important to pause and consider those people who were doing it tough, and any way their lives could be made safer.

“We look forward to partnering with Beddown again next year, when we expect to gather even more donations,” she said.

Commissioner Carroll presented the collection to Chief Executive of Beddown, Norman McGillivray. It included 74 fitted sheets and one doona, donated by staff at Police Headquarters, Townsville Academy, Oxley Academy, and Policelink.

Beddown was founded when Mr McGillivray identified that there were many public spaces within Brisbane City left vacant at night that could be used to provide a safe sleeping place for the homeless.

It has partnered with Secure Parking to access carpark spaces after they close in the evening, creating pop-up accommodation for those with nowhere to sleep.

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