Vital service tackling homelessness in Cairns region
Published Friday, 07 March, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, ATSIP, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
A Cairns service connecting homeless people to support that could rebuild their lives was officially opened today by Communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr.
Funding for the Cairns Homelessness Service Hub at 149-153 Bunda Street includes $94,000 to cover establishment costs and $500,000 annually from the Department of Communities and $100,000 a year from the Department of Housing.
“With manager Sally Watson at the helm, the hub has proven itself in no uncertain terms through a forward-thinking, coordinated approach to service delivery in the Cairns area,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“In its first 5 months contact was made with 776 people, case management was provided to 230 people and 510 referrals were given for other services best suited to meet the diverse needs of clients.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the hub’s success was based on an unprecedented level of cooperation among local service providers including the submission that got it up and running, which was developed by the Cairns Consortium of Services.
“Under the patronage of Anglicare, the consortium will continue to play a lead role in helping people in the Cairns region to overcome the scourge of homelessness.
"The hub complements other Queensland Government initiatives targeting homelessness and associated issues in Cairns, such as the Sleeping Rough Homelessness Project and the Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program.
“What we effectively have is a group of services working together to provide a suite of support options, from early intervention for people at high risk of becoming homeless to services offering crisis accommodation and independent living options,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
The telephone number for Cairns Homelessness Service Hub is 4046 8050.
Media contact: Minister Nelson-Carr’s office 3235 4280 or 0407 637 510, Hub manager Sally Watson on 0408 756 140
Note to editors:
* Members of the Cairns Consortium of Services include: Shelter Housing Action Cairns, Anglicare North Queensland, Ruth’s Women’s Shelter, Salvation Army Centennial Lodge, Women’s Centre Cairns, Warringu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation and Access Community Housing Cairns. All member services, with the exception of Access Community Housing Cairns, receive Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) funding administered by the Department of Communities. SAAP is the primary response to homelessness across Australia under bilateral agreements between the commonwealth, state and territory governments.
Funding for the Cairns Homelessness Service Hub at 149-153 Bunda Street includes $94,000 to cover establishment costs and $500,000 annually from the Department of Communities and $100,000 a year from the Department of Housing.
“With manager Sally Watson at the helm, the hub has proven itself in no uncertain terms through a forward-thinking, coordinated approach to service delivery in the Cairns area,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“In its first 5 months contact was made with 776 people, case management was provided to 230 people and 510 referrals were given for other services best suited to meet the diverse needs of clients.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the hub’s success was based on an unprecedented level of cooperation among local service providers including the submission that got it up and running, which was developed by the Cairns Consortium of Services.
“Under the patronage of Anglicare, the consortium will continue to play a lead role in helping people in the Cairns region to overcome the scourge of homelessness.
"The hub complements other Queensland Government initiatives targeting homelessness and associated issues in Cairns, such as the Sleeping Rough Homelessness Project and the Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program.
“What we effectively have is a group of services working together to provide a suite of support options, from early intervention for people at high risk of becoming homeless to services offering crisis accommodation and independent living options,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
The telephone number for Cairns Homelessness Service Hub is 4046 8050.
Media contact: Minister Nelson-Carr’s office 3235 4280 or 0407 637 510, Hub manager Sally Watson on 0408 756 140
Note to editors:
* Members of the Cairns Consortium of Services include: Shelter Housing Action Cairns, Anglicare North Queensland, Ruth’s Women’s Shelter, Salvation Army Centennial Lodge, Women’s Centre Cairns, Warringu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation and Access Community Housing Cairns. All member services, with the exception of Access Community Housing Cairns, receive Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) funding administered by the Department of Communities. SAAP is the primary response to homelessness across Australia under bilateral agreements between the commonwealth, state and territory governments.