by Emma Ballingall
A Warragul women is telling the stories of Gippsland's homeless people to put the issue in the face of the wider community.
Jess Mylne, who released a short documentary last year and is currently filming more content, says experiences with a Melbourne-based charity and CEO Sleepout inspired her to highlight the issue on a Gippsland level.

"I'm not trying to be Bettermentall or Baw Baw Food Relief," Jess says. "I'm more of a storyteller."
"I want to be a bridge between the two that tells the stories and then the services help."
Jess, who left home at 16-years-old and lived in a Quantum share house in Warragul for about eight months, has come full circle.
"I don't compare myself to a homeless person on the street but homelessness is also couch surfing, is living in a van."
Using her platforms and connections as owner of Warragul business The Makeup Hub, she is working to tell stories, speak at events and showcase her documentary across the region.
Jess has filmed and gained insights from people living under bridges, next to highways and in all corners of Gippsland who are often invisible to the general population.
Housing availability and affordability, marriage breakdowns and avoiding help due to pride are common factors raised during interviews, as well as drug and alcohol addiction.
During conversations, Jess always asks what the wider community should know about homelessness.

"They say people just walk past us. They never sit and ask us about our story.

"You forget they are someone's kid, someone's mum," she says.
Jess acknowledges that filming was tough and left her drained; "I just feel guilty to go home at night."
However, the benefit is elevated awareness and conversations. And, she has plans to do more.
"I tried to make it as shocking, heart stringy, as I could," she says of the documentary. "I wanted to put it (homelessness) in their face."
Working with cinematographer Paul, the documentary features their visit to the campsite of homeless man Ron next to the Princes Fwy at Moe.
The campsite was well known because of its visibility from the main thoroughfare.
Jess says Ron hadn't showered in 10 days, was living amongst rubbish and vermin and wasn't fully aware of his surroundings. He slept in one tent and held his belongings in a second tent.
"I just don't understand how he was allowed to stay there. (I was) a bit confused why services couldn't come and help this man that's clearly mentally unwell.
"Every time I drive past, I always look over and feel guilty again."
However, she hoped filming Ron's plight would draw the help he - and others in similar circumstances - desperately need.
The inspiration to step up stemmed from experiences volunteering with Christmas on the Streets in Melbourne.
When her marriage broke down, Jess says "I didn't really have anyone to hang around" when her children weren't with her on Christmas Day. She opted to volunteer.
"It was probably the best Christmas I've ever had to be honest. And I probably won't spend another Christmas not doing it."
During the experience, she provided a manicure to homeless man Ben. When she asked the time and admitted to not having a watch, Ben offered his own. She refused but he insisted.
Jess says it was Ben's way of giving back to her, and the act - together with a documentary screened at the CEO Sleep Out - inspired her own documentary.
"It kind of shook me, it was like looking at New York City," Jess says of the screening. "I couldn't believe it was Dandenong."
But, it got her thinking she could film in Gippsland to capture and highlight locals living rough.
Jess and Paul are currently filming more content to expand the original documentary. It will be screened at Warragul Cinema at a yet-to-be-confirmed date.
In addition to supporting the Gazette Community Sleepout, Jess is working on her plans for a Gippsland Sleepout next year. Raising funds for Gippsland-based charities, the event will be held at Moe Racing Club on August 20.