Comedy For Good: Raising Money For Youth Homelessness
Youth homelessness is an ongoing difficulty in Australia, there are currently 105,237 homeless people and nearly half of this figure are within the 13-24 age group. In Melbourne we are constantly confronted with the issue, whilst walking through the city you are likely to see people huddled outside shops and on street corners. As the nights get colder, it is becoming increasingly crucial for them to find shelter in the hopes of simply surviving another night. One homeless woman (unnamed) said she feels that “pretty much every day is the same day, it’s like there is no tomorrow.”
Credit: Joe Armao
So, what is being done to help? Comedian Tom Ballard is putting together some of the “finest acts in town” at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The aim of his show Comedy for Good: A Benefit For Youth Homelessness is to raise funds for Youth Projects, a Melbourne Based organisation that offers employment and support for disadvantaged youth. One of the charity’s main services are night nurses, who provide medical aid, mental health support and drug counselling. They are “one of only three street night nursing programs in the world.”
Tyson Daymond in front of his possessions on Hosier Lane, photographed by Darrian Traynor
Previous Comedy For Good shows have featured Tom Gleeson, Judith Lucy, Daniel Kitson, David O’Doherty, Cal Wilson and many others, raising thousands of dollars for Refugee Legal and the Human Rights Centre. At only $38 per ticket, it’s a small price to make a huge difference to lives in need, plus you get to see world class comedians. 100% of the proceeds from Ballard’s show will go directly to Youth Projects.
Source: Melbourne International Comedy Festival
“Each show will feature a different lineup, so yes, you can come to both and you won’t get bored and you’ll be very cool because you’ll be chipping in even more money for such a great cause,” says Tom Ballard.
Comedy For Good is a welcomed contrast to the usual shows at the comedy festival and will make a huge difference to the lives of homeless young people.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is running all over Melbourne until the 22nd of April.
