Help to end homelessness

Rockingham Salvation Army Corps Lieutenant Darrell Wilson is calling on the community to dig deep and donate to this month's Red Shield Appeal.

Lt Wilson said this year the appeal was focused on helping end homelessness.

"We recognise there are many pathways that lead to homelessness including poverty, family violence, addiction and mental illness," he said.

"But people can help change a life before it becomes a lifetime.

"We are calling on the community to help with our mission."

Lt Wilson said it was possible to change a person's story.

"I was speaking with a business owner who we provided assistance to six months ago when he was out of work and out of luck," he said.

"He told me he had climbed the ladder again - his path has changed, he's started his own business and is now in a much more stable situation.

"The story of people's lives can change with the right support and guidance through the rough times."

Lt Wilson said during the coming months the Rockingham centre would expand its services with the completion of its new building and he hoped the community would throw its support behind it.

"The centre will offer a place of hope for many people in our community. We are already experiencing an influx of people seeking assistance and I don't think it will change for a while," he said.

"We feed 50 to 60 people on a Tuesday at lunch and at the emergency relief on a Tuesday and Friday morning we see 25 families."

Lt Wilson said volunteers would be collecting from Monday, May 25 to Sunday, June 7.

The appeal is the Salvos' major annual fundraising drive to help finance its social and community services.

To donate online or sign up to volunteer go to www.salvos .org.au.

The centre is at the corner of Willmott Drive and Read Street, Rockingham.