Local hero sleeping rough to fundraise for homeless

By ABHA HAVAL

A recent winner of the Australian Small Business awards and personal trainer, Timo Topp, has initiated a fundraiser in collaboration with Rough Edges which will involve sleeping rough at the end of the month in Rushcutters Bay Park to support Sydney’s homeless community.

Rough Edges, also known as “Roughies”, is a drop-in community centre in Darlinghurst that provides shelter, food, safety, security and a place to connect for the homeless and marginalised.

Fundraising Partnerships coordinator at Rough Edges, Naomi Escott said that Topp has a “great heart”.

“[Timo] has shown great initiative in wanting to do this to make a difference in the lives of our patrons,” she said.

“He is also helping to raise awareness about homelessness to the wider community as he is doing this in a public space.”

As per a recent census by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), NSW has a homelessness rate of 43.4 per 10,000 in 2021.

According to Homelessness NSW, the census shows that there were 35,011 people experiencing homelessness in NSW in 2021; 963 of these were living in improvised dwellings, tents, or sleeping out.

The City of Sydney Council’s street count for rough sleepers as of this February is 277 people including 272 people in crisis and temporary accommodation; which is greater than last year.

Timo Topp aims to raise $10,000 by sleeping rough

Timo Topp said, “It is my own personal initiative.”

“I have been working in the community for 25 years. As a trainer, [I’ve seen] that many people lack the motivation to exercise in winter because of the cold and dark but, I feel for the homeless who are stuck out living in it. It is terrible.”

“I am taking a stand by doing something to help and actually experience what it’s like.”

Topp, who hopes the project will help combat misleading stereotypes, questioned the approach of “why don’t they get a job?”

“I think it’s important we address the false stereotypes of who homeless people are. Society often defaults to the perception of a homeless person as a dishevelled person drinking alcohol or taking drugs; and [saying] why don’t they get a job?”

“Having visited Rough Edges, [seeing] that many are regular people; you could walk past them in the street and not know. They are normal people who are experiencing hard times in their life and are trying to get back on track, which is why they need help and support,” said Topp.

Community centres lack support from government

CEO of Rough Edges, Gabriel Lacoba told City Hub that, although the “city council does distribute a lot of money and services to the community”, the government needs to do more to support local community centres. More funding is needed for the homeless community.

“We don’t get government funding, and we raise all the money individually from the support of local businesses and various donations,” he said.

Topp said, “every dollar counts. I hope that by taking a stand and doing something positive, it will not just raise money, it will inspire others to do more… and get involved in the community.”