Good news for homelessness service providers
Funding has been made available for rural, outer regional and remote service providers with clients who are homeless or at risk of being homeless, while RDNS’ good work in the area of homelessness has received community-wide recognition.
RDNS nurse, Jo Giampetrone (right), with “Tracey” (left), a client who has experienced homelessness. Photo by Jerry Galea
Rural, outer regional and remote service providers are now able to apply for a bite of the $3.8 million in federal government funding available to help older clients who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, through the Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged (ACHA) program.
Successful applicants will receive funding from January 2012 until 30 June 2015 to help frail and low income older people who are renting, have insecure housing or who are homeless, to remain in the community.
Eligible candidates and/or their carers will receive support to assist them to find and access the right kind of housing and community care, specific to their needs.
They will also be provided with advice on housing applications and coordinating removals; access to accommodation-related legal and financial services; links to community care and welfare services; and advocacy services, as required.
This year, the ACHA scheme received an extra $7.3 million – earmarked for the next five years – through the recent Commonwealth aged care reform package.
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, said the additional funding allowed the government to focus on homelessness services in rural and regional areas.
“There has been a three-fold increase in rough sleepers over the past five years and people aged over 55 are showing the greatest percentage increase,” said Mr Butler.
“This demonstrates a real need for homelessness services in our community for seniors.
“…This additional funding will help us to link a further 900 older Australians with accommodation and care services in each of those years.”
Applications for the ACHA funding round for services in outer regional, remote and very remote areas close at 2pm on 21 September 2012.
Service providers interested in applying for funding can find more information on the government’s website.
From the country to the city
Victoria’s Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) has been recognised for its Homeless Person’s Program and the contribution it makes to the Melbourne community.
The community nurse run program was named as a 2012 Melbourne Awards finalist in the Contribution to Community by a Community Organisation category at a gala dinner hosted by the city’s Lord Mayor, Cr Robert Doyle, at the Melbourne Town Hall last Saturday night.
The Melbourne Awards, now in their 10th year, honour and celebrate the city’s high achievers by recognising their outstanding contributions in the areas of sustainability, community and the profile of the city.
RDNS CEO, Stephen Muggleton, said the fact that RDNS was a finalist was a wonderful and fitting tribute to the Homeless Persons’ Program nurses and staff.
“These 38 nurses, who make up the HPP program, work quietly and efficiently with people experiencing homelessness, ensuring that they do not go without the healthcare that most of us take for granted,” Mr Muggleton said.
“Every city has its homeless – but it is the way a city addresses the issues that makes our city truly great.”
The HPP Melbourne-based team specialises in the care of individuals experiencing homelessness. These include people who live in rooming houses, crisis accommodation, hotels, parks and on the street.
The nurses provide primary care, including health and social assessments, professional nursing care, counselling and active support, first aid, medication management, and follow ups.
They work with other agencies and implement collaborative programs between homeless people and other health services, including public hospitals, and advocate on behalf of individuals experiencing homelessness.
“Many people do not know this work is going on around them as they go about their day to day business in the city,” he said.
“The staff do a remarkable job with very complex clients in quite tough conditions.
“I’m so proud that this tradition of support lives on and is reflected today in our team’s work with the homeless. For hundreds of people our nurses are the difference between hope and despair.”
