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The trend around Newcastle's cafes is as heartwarming as it is delicious. The idea is that coffee drinkers can pay to "suspend" a beverage or meal for someone else who, for whatever reason, cannot pay for their own.
While some establishments, like Suspension Espresso in Islington and Cafe Tempest in Wallsend, have been providing free meals and coffees to people in need for years, a new initiative is linking up business that are willing to provide goods and services to people doing it tough.
Nissa Phillips, the coordinator of the Connecting the Hunter Program for Hunter Homeless Connect, said the project was inspired by the organisation's Hunter Homeless Connect Day, which saw 1000 of the region's most needy travel to Newcastle Showground Exhibition Centre last year to receive free services.
"A lot of business services and community members do amazing things for Hunter Homeless Connect Day so it's about making that happen all year round," Ms Phillips said.
"We're encouraging local businesses, services and community members to get involved in providing practical goods and services to people doing it tough or experiencing homeless.
"We're encouraging, so that it's a sustainable initiative, that customers pay it forward into a pool of money so businesses are not out of pocket a lot."
Community Sector Banking has awarded the volunteer not-for-profit organisation $46,000 to roll out the project. Since the program was launched on March 21, Ms Phillips said six businesses had signed up and were offering everything from haircuts to hot meals.
She said The Advanced School of Beauty in Maitland was providing waxing and massages for women.
Suspension Espresso, Cafe Tempest, Good Brother in Newcastle, Onyx Espresso Bar in Mayfield and Merewether Hair Studio are also part of the program.
People will be able to access vouchers for the businesses through homelessness services.
Ms Phillips hopes to sign up at least fifty more over the next twelve months.
"Even businesses that are doing suspended coffee initiatives or have already been been doing this work, we'd love to connect them to our support networks so that I can also help train their front-line staff," she said.
"I can let them know what to do and how they can link customers in with support networks and specialist homelessness support."
Ms Phillips said that apart from basic items she was hoping the network would be able to provide vouchers for entertainment and social outings.
"So that people are not just surviving. They have an opportunity to have a nice time as well," she said.
Rail crossing leveled
Workers on the Scone Bypass began placing the beams for a new bridge at the southern interchange of the project on Tuesday.
The overpass will replace the last rail level crossing on the New England Highway.
The bridge is one of three in construction for the $120 million highway project, which is expected to be completed by late 2020.
The bypass will use 172 bridge beams in total.
When state and federal funding was committed to the project in 2014 it was estimated that 8000 vehicles used the crossing every day, including 1200 heavy vehicles.
Twenty five crashes, including one fatality, had occurred on the four-kilometre section of the highway in the five years to 2013.
At the time, ministers said the project would be completed by 2019. Good to see them make a start.
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