Australians Encouraged To Put Themselves In The Shoes Of The Homeless

Wayside Chapel Pastor and CEO, Jon Owen is proud to provide thousands of people in need with a safe space to gain equitable access to essential health, social and recreational services as well as unconditional love and support and a place to share their stories and experience without fear of judgement.

“The impact of homelessness on our streets is truly devastating. Australians are under extreme financial pressures with the cost-of-living increasing in recent months. We have seen people, even families, forced to sleep on the streets and turn to services like Wayside as they do not have any other option.

“We are grateful to be able to provide support and services for the many people who walk through our doors during some of the hardest times of their lives. There are many people who thank us for our services, but really, we are the lucky ones who get to meet these extraordinary people who are motivated to create a better life for themselves with shelter and comfort off the streets,” Pastor Jon says.

“A man who understands better than most what it is like to sleep on the streets is one of our Wayside visitors, Byron.

“Byron found Wayside after well and truly hitting rock bottom. Byron is an example of someone who made a conscious effort to avoid the devastating path of alcohol and drug addiction which he was witness to during his upbringing, but sadly fell into a period of drug and gambling addiction forcing him onto the streets.

“Byron had done everything to provide a better life for his children, often working multiple jobs but after a relationship breakdown at 55 years of age, Byron’s life spiralled and he ended up living on the streets. Byron is now out the other side and goes to bed in the same place every night and can walk from his front door to his front fence and see Bondi Beach. Sadly, we know there are still so many people struggling and not everyone has the same experience as Byron.

“According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data on homelessness, there are more than 116,000 people experiencing homelessness in Australia. However, we are not seeing the number of people needing support decreasing, so we can only assume this is continuing to grow.

“We are encouraging the community to put themselves in the shoes of those sleeping on the streets and participate in the Long Walk Home fundraiser this Friday, 7 October, which is a 28km walk from Parramatta to Kings Cross. People outside of Sydney can do the virtual version online wherever they are located.

“The inspiration for the Long Walk Home challenge sprang from our own data after we provided pedometers to some of our regular homeless visitors, and discovered that some of them were walking, on average, about 28 km every week to access vital support services, food and to find a safe place to sleep.

“We want to help more people like Byron overcome the challenges of homelessness as we know there are so many people struggling to put a roof over their head. If we can provide support services, or even just a friendly face for those in need, we know we are doing something to make a difference.”

To find out more about how you can participate or donate, head to the Long Walk Home.

40 Comments

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 10 Nov 2025
    11:53 am
I really do feel for the homeless people. There are so many now, especially here in Tasmania, as there simply aren’t enough affordable properties available to rent, etc. The Government really needs to do more to ensure affordable housing, as there are a lot of people forced onto the streets in situations out of their control as well.

- - mom221746 said
  - 03 Sep 2025
    5:14 pm
Wow! What a great idea! I definitely think more could be done to help the homeless. Last year we took food down to the shelter on Christmas Day and it was really gutting to see people not have a home during the holiday season especially. Great article and thanks for raising important awareness

- - Ellen said
  - 28 Jun 2025
    7:25 am
I have great admiration and respect for the services Wayside offer to homeless people. Trying to put ourselves in their shoes may be hard when we never ever have experienced these things ourselves or find ourselves rock bottom. I do feel empathy and respect for those who face these problems, maybe one day we can volunteer and help

- - BellaB said
  - 24 Jun 2025
    7:12 pm
Homelessness is such a complex issue, and so often multiple issues need to be addressed to truly solve the problem for an individual. It takes real courage to address those issues, and to accept help with some or all of them. I’m in awe of the people who fight their way out of homelessness.

- - Ellen said
  - 21 May 2025
    5:57 pm
@ Sklh What a situation you were in !! and that with an 18 month old !! I can imagine it was very very distressing sad and confronting and sad to go through this process. I’m glad you are able to rent a nice little one bedroom place now. Don’t worry about what your friends say and think. I hope and pray your situation will change one of these days.

- - mom160270 said
  - 20 May 2025
    1:18 pm
It would be terrifying to be homeless. It is only going to get worse and I really do hope Government agencies are doing something about increasing the number of shelters around the country.

- - mom486197 said
  - 16 Apr 2025
    6:29 am
I see a lot of homeless people when I am in the city CBD. It breaks my heart and I hope that one day they can get help and be able to not have to be homeless. I could not imagine how it must be to not have a roof over your head and have to live this way, it is so sad. It’s lovely to see so many people are trying to help these people.

- - mom111059 said
  - 28 Feb 2025
    6:18 pm
I don’t think anyone can fully understand what it is like to be homeless unless they have experienced it. I can sympathise with those who are homeless and feel as a country, Australia should be doing more to solve this. The statistics are increasing and this is shocking. We need to think of others so we can all live safely.

- - Sklh said
  - 28 Feb 2025
    12:48 pm
I found myself homeless with my 18 month old last year. I’m highly educated but had to leave a DV situation while pregnant. I temporarily loved with my mother who had bipolar and it increasingly became emotionally unsafe for us to remain at home and I had tu leave suddenly. It was very distressing, confronting and sad to go thriving the process. We now rent a nice little one bedroom place but I’ve still got friends who tell me my son should have his own space… yeah… thanks for your unhelpful privilege…

- - BellaB said
  - 01 Jan 2025
    6:46 pm
HOmelessness is a really complex issue, about more than just a roof. So there are lots and lots of ways to help.

- - mom465794 said
  - 19 Nov 2024
    4:21 am
Homelessness in Australia really needs to be addressed

- - mom462038 said
  - 14 Sep 2024
    10:33 am
Whenever I get upset with housework or electricity bill for the heat pump, I stop and remind myself how lucky I am to have a stable home. So many have nothing

- - ChiWren said
  - 30 Nov 2023
    11:15 pm
It’s really tragic how the number of homeless Aussies are only increasing. Really wish those in power could do more to assist before it even comes close to it being an option. Housing needs to be the forefront issue next election.

- - Zmijka86 said
  - 20 Jun 2023
    9:05 pm
It’s good way to teach other about this issue.

- - ozstarlett said
  - 02 Dec 2022
    8:04 pm
if at no other time during the year, Christmas is a wonderful time to think of those less fortunate

- - Gigi said
  - 09 Nov 2022
    9:50 pm
Teaching our kids to pay it forward. Hopefully the next generation can help those in need

- - mom461384 said
  - 08 Nov 2022
    2:43 pm
What a fantastic idea. Unfortunately I don’t think it will help as much as it needs to but it’s certainly a step on the right direction

- - CrystalG said
  - 01 Nov 2022
    7:25 am
Empathy is soo important! However it’s terribly sad that we are in the year 2022 and homelessness is not only extremely present within australia but the rates are increasing..

- - theduchess said
  - 01 Nov 2022
    6:30 am
Had the pleasure of working with Jon at a school some years ago and was amazed at how awesomely he changed the lives and attitudes of all who came in contact with him, especially the children. Compassion, understanding, love and care was extremely obvious. Prayer and blessings to him.

- - mom101628 said
  - 31 Oct 2022
    11:12 pm
A fantastic story about overcoming the hurdles in front of him but unfortunately not all stories will have a happy ending. Imagination doesn’t do justice to walking a ‘mile in their shoes’, but if it touches a person’s heart strings and brings forth a donation, that is all one can wish for.