Housing and Homelessness
Homelessness means that you do not have housing that is safe, secure and affordable. Being homeless can include ‘sleeping rough’ (nowhere to stay) or moving from home to home staying temporarily with others (couch surfing). Everyone has the right to have a safe and stable home. If you do not, there are people who can assist.
At any one time a significant number of people are homeless in this community. Of these, a large proportion is young people who might still be attending school and appear to be living quite normal lives. People try and hide the fact that they are homeless for fear of being judged by others.
The major cause of homelessness is family conflict/ break down and poverty. Family Reconciliation services are available to assist families to resolve conflict before it becomes too severe.
Remember that there are services within the community available to assist.More Information >>
Wayss Youth Support Services
1. Youth Support Program that provides assessment, case managed support and referrals for young people 16-25 years who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.2. Step Ahead Program Intensive long term case managed support.
3. Emergency Youth Accommodation 10 bed congregate care facility providing case managed support.
Housing Support
If your family has been moving about because you can’t find a permanent home, or you are facing the very real possibility of losing your home, we can help you. Depending on your situation we can work with you to help your family to find long-term public housing, a private rental or avoid eviction. We can help you by providing information and support so your family can secure the long-term accommodation you need. We can assess the needs of the whole family to provide support, information and referrals to appropriate services with the aim of breaking the cycle of homelessness.
SECL Youth Services Drop In Service
Drop In Service: The Youth Links Drop In service operates from 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The service provides information, referrals, initial assessments, personal support, crisis intervention, advocacy, emergency relief and other practical support to young people aged 14 to 25 years.
Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP)
Youth Links SAAP Team assists homeless and at risk of homelessness young people to overcome and reduce the challenges to obtain and maintain suitable and affordable housing. The SAAP program aims to provide the best possible service to meet individual client needs by encouraging young people to make informed choices and decisions, to learn independent living skills and to take control of their lives.
Bunurong Health Service/Dandenong and District Aborigines Cooperative Ltd (DDACL)
Provides - Youth Group, which & can be accessed by younger Aboriginal people, runs on Monday evenings.The Koori Maternity Services and Aboriginal Best Start programs support young mothers with ante and post natal care and enable them to participate in community services.
Whitelion Southern Homeless Youth Assistance Program (SHYAP)
Whitelion's Southern Homeless Youth Assistance Program provides outreach-based case management and brief intervention support for young people (12-25) who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, living in the Frankston, Casey, Dandenong and Mornington Peninsula local government areas. We can help by connecting young people to housing options, assisting to stabilise housing placements, assisting with family reunification, and connecting young people to mental health services, family violence services, income support and other priorities identified by the young person.Targeted Care Packages
MOIRA delivers Targeted Care Packages which can assist young people residing in residential care to exit to a better placement option or as a prevention to entering residential care. Only children and young people subject to a statutory child protection order are eligible for a targeted care package and referral is determined by Child Protection alongside the DHHS packaging team. A targeted care package is an allocation of funding attached to a specific young person and based on an assessment of that young person’s needs. A targeted care package provides funds for one or a number of clearly articulated supports to meet the young person’s needs and is available for as long as they need (subject to review). Key workers are a core part of most targeted care packages. The key worker has a pivotal role in supporting the implementation of the targeted care package by providing case management functions consistent with the child or young person’s case plan and cultural support plan.Better Futures
Better Futures is a new service and practice model designed to improve outcomes for young people transitioning from care to supported independence, up to the age of 21. It is guided by a Better Futures (Advantaged Thinking) practice framework and support is tailored to meet the individual needs of young people. Better Futures is a new way of supporting care leavers, engaging with young people and their support networks, including case managers and care teams early in their transition from care, and supporting young people across five service offers; housing and living skills, education, employment, health and wellbeing, and community connections. Young people are eligible for Better Futures support from 15 years and 9 months until their 21st birthday Young people in foster, kinship and residential care are eligible for Better Futures if they are subject to a family reunification order, a care by Secretary order or a long-term care order on or after their sixteenth birthday. Following cessation of their order, young people can receive support up until 21 years of age.Lifestyle and Housing
The Lifestyle and Housing Team deliver a number of programs including: Housing Support - Young people experiencing housing concerns or are at risk of homelessness, should always contact their local area entry point (opening door) by calling 1800 825 955. MOIRA can offer interim response housing support to young people to assist them to do this as required. Youth Focused Housing Worker – The primary objective of the MOIRA YFHW position is to provide an early intervention response to young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the inner/middle south region. Family Reconciliation – This program provides young people aged 16-25 (with links to the Southern Region) the opportunity to collaborate with a skilled counsellor and mediator, and explore strategies to strengthen relationships Life and Living Skills – Life and living skills is aimed at improving young people’s stability and social inclusion through development frameworks that equips young people with confidence and resources they need to live independently. The program includes opportunities to engage in an individual or group workshop that offers tools and practical lessons
Cranbourne Information & Support Service Inc
Provides information, advocacy and referral services, as well as crisis support services such as emergency relief (food, petrol and chemist vouchers, food parcels, support with education expenses, Myki Day Passes, etc.). The agency also provides counselling, financial counselling, and a No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS).