Locals experiencing cost-of-living impacts, homelessness or housing insecurity are invited to meet local support services and share a meal at the upcoming Community Connections Day in Wagga Wagga.
Formerly known as the Homelessness Week Expo, Community Connections Day is being held during National Homelessness Week 2026 from Monday 3 August to Sunday 9 August.
The free event is at the Victory Memorial Gardens on Wednesday 5 August 2026, from 11am to 2pm.
This is an initiative of the Triple H (Homelessness, Housing and Human Services) Forum, being led by the local homelessness lead agency St Vincent De Paul with support from Wagga Wagga City Council.
St Vincent De Paul's Edel Quinn Refuge Manager Damien Adams said the Community Connections Day will help bring services directly to the people who need them most.
"Everyone is invited to this event," Mr Adams said. "It is a great opportunity for people to connect with a wide range of support services in one location and share a meal.
"By offering food relief and free haircuts as well as access to a range of local community support services, we hope to remove barriers to seeking help faced by people and families experiencing housing insecurity."
More than 25 state and federally funded support services, and local community organisations will be available to chat or find solutions for community members experiencing a diverse range of challenges.
There will be free haircuts by Riverina Community College, hot drinks with the Rapid Relief Team, Vinnies Van sandwiches and Wellways cooking a barbecue lunch.
Council's Director Community, Environment and Partnerships, Christine Priest said the collaborative community event is an important reminder of the help that is available in our region.
"Homelessness is a complex and confronting community that requires a whole-of-government and community response," Ms Priest said. "We believe that everyone deserves to feel welcome and be safe in Wagga Wagga.
"As we know, navigating services can be overwhelming, especially for people experiencing a crisis.
"One of the primary goals for this event is to support our local communities to connect and access essential resources, and to learn where to find help when they need it during these challenging times."
A key priority for these organisations and services is to prevent housing insecurity and homelessness in the first place.
The theme for Homelessness Week 2026 is 'Homelessness Action Now', reflecting a collective call to address and take action against homelessness.
