The Samaritans Foundation says today's seventh 'Hunter Homeless Connect Day' is a massive confidence boost for those in the region who are disadvantaged.
Around a thousand people are expected to attend the event at Broadmeadow's PCYC, as part of homelessness prevention week.
It offers people who are homeless or on the verge of homelessness access to a range of support services for drug and alcohol abuse, housing, employment and finance.
There will be free haircuts and massages, clothing and blankets, health screening and immunisations, legal help and birth certificates.
Samaritans CEO Cec Shevels said it has become a day of community compassion.
"There'll be food and music, and it's really a time when the community comes together so that people who are disadvantaged are really made to feel welcome," he said.
"It gives them a boost to go out there and get on with their lives with more confidence."
Samaritans has urged the New South Wales Government to do more to tackle domestic violence, if it is serious about preventing homelessness.
Mr Shevels said it is a huge issue for the region.
"A major cause of homelessness, of course, is violence - domestic and family violence," he said.
"It affects women and it affects children particularly.
"We've really got to find ways of combating violence more successfully than we have been in the past."
