This week we had the privilege of meeting with Roseanne Rofaeel, founder of Christmas on the Streets. Currently, she is a student at Swinburne University, undertaking a Doctorate in Clinical and Forensic Psychology.
Could you tell us about Christmas on the Streets?
Christmas on the Streets (COTS), is a not-for-profit organisation supporting men and women experiencing homelessness in Melbourne, Australia. I founded the movement in December of 2016 and since our establishment, through grassroots street outreach, annual events, school workshops and interstate programs, I have led hundreds of volunteers in supporting thousands of people in need across Australia. We are fortunate enough to receive support on a global scale, allowing us to also fundraise for a number of international campaigns in countries including Cambodia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nepal, Philippines, Uganda, Malawi and Kenya.
How did COTS serve the homeless during the pandemic?
When Melbourne came to a standstill and COTS could no longer serve on the streets, host annual events or travel, I was unsure of what moving forward would look like for us as an organisation. Initially, I thought that our service would terminate. Instead, we grew by what felt like a billion-fold.
Being made aware that a majority of those experiencing homelessness had been displaced into crisis accommodation, we knew that certain needs would be difficult to meet – including meals. Responding to this, a group of charities, including COTS, reached out to Melbourne City Council and asked if we could be deemed essential workers so that we could voluntarily prepare and distribute meals to everyone that had been located into a temporary accommodation.
From 20 weekly snack packs, we began preparing up to 350 meals every Friday night and delivered them to over 10 locations throughout the CBD.
The initial five-week plan turned into eighteen weeks and we collectively prepared and delivered over 45,705 meals to all of our friends that were placed into crisis accommodation throughout the peak of the pandemic. My mum built an additional temporary kitchen in the house to cook the meals and volunteers selflessly gave of their time to help us in packing and delivering them every week.
The initiative was far from easy but it was so worth it and I would do it all over again if we had to.
What moves you to serve the poor in our country?
I recognise that they are just people – not poor people or homeless people – but people who are experiencing unfortunate circumstances. Recognising that the circumstances of the poor are but an experience, helps me clearly see that I too could find myself in such a predicament. By being made aware of my privilege, I am compelled to do something about the needs I recognise around me. It also helps me see other people more like Jesus does, because by thinking about the poor as just people, without the label, I am more likely to see their innate dignity, worth and beauty before I see anything else.
What kinds of difficulties are faced by the homeless people you encounter?
There are a number of problems that those who are poor face, whether it be financial or material. However, what we see more and more is that people are poor in connection, community, belonging, friendship…
The pandemic has helped to highlight this truth – that we are made to be in communion with one another and that we cannot thrive in isolation – and so I believe that a lack of belonging, feeling lonely, is one of the greatest problems those who are “poor” in our society face.
How difficult is it for someone to move out of poverty?
I think it’s important to highlight that falling into poverty is easier than we often like to believe and the truth is, coming up from falling into the cracks is often far more complicated than we assume. I think that to navigate something like poverty one would need their health looked after (both physical and mental), a consistent and positive support system, job security, housing, food and all of these basic necessities (that we often take for granted) addressed.
To what extent does stigma contribute to the experience of living in poverty in Australia, and what can be done to address this?
Reducing the stigma associated with homelessness is one of the pillars that makes up the overall mission of COTS. I believe that it is an issue that contributes to the overall crisis in our backyard. Words are powerful, and our language and judgements can be used to tear people down or build them up.
Understanding this, I developed our school programs that aim to educate young people about the reality of homelessness. This initiative has seen me speaking to children in primary schools, young adults in high schools, and even out at workplaces all around the country. We share stories from the streets, statistics about the crisis and the work that COTS does, in the hope of reducing the stigma associated with poverty and encouraging people to be part of the solution.
Humanising this reality helps break the stigma attached to it and encourages positive dialogue and conversation so that we can shed light on the issue and instil healthy change towards breaking the cycle.
What is your vision for COTS?
A world where homelessness ceases to be a reality.
How can others get involved?
As an organisation that is run entirely by volunteers, and relies completely on the support of the community, we are so grateful for everyone who believes in the mission and helps us in serving towards our vision.
