A meeting will be held next week to seek community support for the Friends of Rae Burgess Centre.

Former Yass mayor Ken Helm will chair the meeting and encouraged all Yass Valley residents to show their support.

“The Rae Burgess Centre does a magnificent job of helping people in need in our community,” said Mr Helm.

“Hundreds of families have benefited over the years and I want to see this continue into the future.”

Earlier this year the state government announced it wouldn’t continue to finance the homelessness service, potentially putting people out on the street after June next year.

The group was set up under Anglicare to kick start community fundraising and be used to seek funds from the state and federal governments.

The Rae Burgess Centre costs $80,000 annually to keep it running at its current capacity of three days per week.

The centre was established from money donated from the estate of prominent children’s health nurse, Sister Rae Burgess.

It was originally a place where women could escape domestic violence and homelessness, and utilise support services to find secure housing.

The service, now at the CWA rooms in Banjo Paterson Park, evolved into support services for all people in crisis.

Local business Yass Valley Property was the first to throw its support behind the centre, this week handing a cheque to the group.

“We are very pleased to support the Friends of Rae Burgess Centre,” Mr Curlewis said.

“In our business of selling houses, we know how important it is for families to have a home and we want to see Rae Burgess Centre continue to do its great work.”

The public meeting will b held at 7.30pm on Tuesday December 11 at Yass Soldiers Club. For more information call convenors David Grant on 0411 553 049 or Michael Pilbrow on 0418 405 489.