One-off homelessness projects receive over $230,000 funding
Education programs, training and resource packages, support groups and CD rom manuals are among the projects to be funded to help increase the community’s knowledge of homelessness, Minister for Community Services, Senator Nigel Scullion, announced today.
Six projects in Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria will share in funding of over $230,000 under the National Homelessness Strategy (NHS) Communication Activities program.
‘The Australian Government has recognised that homelessness is a complex issue which requires varied solutions for different communities. Through the NHS we are working to create flexible and practical solutions for individual communities.
‘Each of the successful applicants will receive up to $40,000 for small scale, one off initiatives. These projects have demonstrated that their proposed activities will increase knowledge of homelessness, promote collaboration across government programs and sectors and are cost effective.
‘The recipients can now work towards the implementation of more streamlined services, the development of training and resource kits and the adaptation of templates and toolkits from international models.
‘Today’s funding announcement is part of the $10 million allocated in 2005 to the NHS over four years for Demonstration Projects and Communication Activities and shows the Australian Government’s leadership in approaches to preventing and reducing homelessness.
‘The NHS aims to improve the links between existing programs and services, to better develop outcomes for clients and to identify ways of reducing the incidence of homelessness.
‘The Australian Government will continue to support services providers who, by working with people affected by homelessness, are able to suggest and implement innovative and targeted solutions,’ Senator Scullion said.
National Homelessness Strategy Communication Activities
1. SAMH Project (Salvation Army Mental Health)
The Salvation Army (Queensland) Property Trust
Recommended funding amount: $40,000
Location: Brisbane QLD
This Activity aims to improve outcomes for Salvation Army clients with a mental illness who are at risk of homelessness by developing training and resource packages for front line staff and through the establishment of a support group.
2. NO NAME
Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors Inc
Recommended funding amount: $40,000
Location: Perth WA
This Activity aims to educate service providers and at risk youth on issues which contribute to the risk of homelessness in youth from a refugee background, while also formulating strategies to prevent homelessness.
3. Women Housing Complex Needs: Service Coordination Framework
Sacred Heart Mission Inc
Recommended funding amount: $36,400
Location: St Kilda VIC
Under this Activity a project officer will be appointed to implement a service integration framework targeted to homeless women and women at risk of homelessness who present with a range of multiple and complex needs living in the inner south region of Melbourne.
4. Prison Break Project
The Salvation Army- Australian Southern Territory
Recommended funding amount: $36,000
Location: Mont Albert Melbourne VIC
This Activity aims to improve housing and community integration outcomes for Victorian prisoners on short term sentences who are at risk of homelessness.
5. ‘Roofs for Youth’: Resources Enhancement and Tenancy Support Project
Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia (YACWA)
Recommended funding amount: $40,000
Location: West Perth WA
This Activity will update the Roofs for Youths Manual, transfer it to a CD rom and mobilise the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) youth sector to develop effective partnerships with local real estate agencies.
6. Building on Common Ground Project – A community/business toolkit for housing homeless people
Queensland Community Housing Coalition Ltd
Recommended funding amount: $40,000
Location: South Brisbane QLD
This Activity will work with the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) to adapt the USA Common Ground experience into a practical template and toolkit for use by the private and community sectors and governments within Australia.