by Bonnie Collings
While many people spent winter nights indoors, with heaters or woodfires to keep them warm, Warragul local Red, spent his winter nights searching for a safe and dry place to sleep.
For two years, Red has lived on the streets. Bundled in second-hand coats and as many layers as he can find to stay warm, Red slept outdoors on nights as cold as minus two degrees.

He's part of the 33 per cent of rough sleepers who accessed the homelessness entry point in Warragul during the 2024/25 period, according to data from the Gippsland Homelessness Network.
Red was keen to share his story to raise awareness about the reality of homelessness in West Gippsland.
Previously living in Morwell, Red found himself on the street after an incident with his landlord.
"I had an altercation with my landlord, and got kicked out, and then I couldn't find anywhere to rent.
"Where I was living wasn't ideal anyway, and I ended up over here (in West Gippsland). I couldn't find anywhere (to live), I didn't have the money, I didn't have the resources. The fact I deal with alcoholism too makes it hard," Red says.
Red had been receiving support from Quantum Support Services in Warragul, but the lack of housing available to him is the biggest challenge.
"I'm not having any trouble with Centrelink or anything like that," he says. "My payments will, I assume, still keep going through as they should do. I've got no problems with accessing food. It's just housing, or the lack thereof."
Coming to terms with the reality of being homeless, Red built up a supply of items necessary for sleeping rough.
"I ended up accumulating stuff that you would need to be out on the streets, a good swag and a good sleeping bag. Every time I get a payment, I try to load up a little bit."
Red spent some time sleeping in various locations across Warragul before being asked to move on.
"I can understand it (being asked to move on) but there just isn't anything here. People will keep telling me about the neighbourhood house, I've already been (there), they've got no room to put anyone in. It's like you're running around in circles."
Feeling the physical impact of sleeping rough every night, Red struggles to walk long distances, a significant challenge when support agencies are spread across the town.
"People say "go up and see them", but that's like a four or five kilometre round trip, I'm lucky to walk 500 metres down the street let alone that sort of distance," he says.
Red estimates there are between 40 and 50 people sleeping rough locally.
"We look after each other," he says.
Red says he receives mixed responses from people in the community.
"Some people are awesome, probably 70 per cent of people will give you a dollar, but there's about 30 per cent that will give you five dollars. It's sporadic, but I'm pretty well known around town."
But one thing is always consistent from community members - judgement.
"It's disgusting. It's perpetual, those views are just going to go around and around for eternity."
Red hopes people will consider the different reasons that contribute to someone becoming homeless.
"You could have drug or alcohol problems, you can't go to work, or you've lost somebody in your life and life isn't the same. There's so many variables."
Red's parting message was a reminder to treat people with kindness and compassion.
"Judge not, lest ye be judged," he says.