Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O”Connor, Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus, and Hanover CEO Tony Keenan launch Hanover”s Ride for Home. 88540 Picture: MEAGAN ROGERS
By CASEY NEILL
CARS will make way for bicycles on EastLink this month to help break the cycle of homelessness.
Hanover’s Ride for Home on 18 November aims to raise $450,000 to help homeless kids get back to school and help their parents find safe and sustainable housing, education and employment.
Hanover Dandenong supported more than 900 clients in crisis in the past financial year, including 161 children.
Funds from last year’s ride went towards a new communal living and cooking area at the site for clients to complete basic nutrition training.
Isaacs MP and cycling enthusiast Mark Dreyfus, who wil lparticipate in the ride, last month launched the ride with Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor.
Mr Dreyfus said homelessness was a problem in Greater Dandenong.
“We have people leading perfectly normal, ordinary lives one year who find themselves, due to a variety of unforeseen circumstances, suddenly homeless,” he said.
Hanover Welfare Services supports Victorians experiencing homelessness and housing crisis.
Ride participants will include the Hanover Client Team of people who have experienced homelessness.
Before the event each of them would receive a new bike, a three-hour coaching session from a professional cyclist, a session with a nutritionist and group fitness training.
Ride for Home includes 75km, 35km and 15km rides, which all start and finish on the Ringwood Bypass.
Visit www.rideforhome.com.au for more information, to take part, or to support the ride.
