Breaking the homelessness cycle
For many families, a roof over their heads will not mean an end to homelessness. While crisis accommodation can provide short-term relief, difficulties with health, parenting, relationships or finances can contribute to ongoing housing instability. A new approach helps families to move beyond homelessness by addressing its causes while providing safe and stable housing.
A Place to Call Home provides families with a Housing and Homelessness Services property for the duration of their need, as well as coordinated and intensive help across the spectrum of social support services to address the factors causing their homelessness.
Stable housing is critical for family wellbeing says Dr Kaye Pickering, Gold Coast regional manager with ACT for Kids, which refers people to A Place to Call Home.
"Families with safe, appropriate and stable housing can focus on getting other areas of their lives back on track," she says. "A Place to Call Home gives families a bit of extra support to move beyond crisis and fix the problems that have contributed to them cycling in and out of homelessness."
Since the program began late last year, 13 Queensland families have received social housing, tenancy support and a range of other services.
Homeless and need help, or know someone who does?
Contact Homeless Persons Information Queensland
This service can help by providing information about:
- housing
- advice and support
- practical assistance such as where to get meals, showers and clothing.
Toll-free: 1800 47 47 53
1800 HPIQLD toll-free within Australia†
TTY Toll-free: 1800 010 222 toll-free within Australia†
† Calls from mobile phones are charged at the applicable rate