COMMUNITY housing organisation Housing Plus will roll out a range of radical reforms in the Orange, Cabonne and Blayney shires designed to make it quicker and easier for homeless people to access help.
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Housing Plus chief executive officer Karen Andrew said the changes would include the introduction of a one-stop-shop at its office at 113 Byng Street to help adults and families who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, in Orange and the surrounding area.
“Homeless people can be assessed for crisis and support services and apply for social housing at the one place,” Ms Andrew said.
Ms Andrew said the reforms would also allow people in outlying areas such as Cabonne and Blayney “to access services previously not available to them”.
Ms Andrew said Housing Plus would work with at least 430 men, women or families within the three shires who would all benefit from the implementation of the new reforms.
“In Western NSW, the new Going Home Staying Home program has received a 5 per cent increase in funding to manage the issue of homelessness, and it is something we are extremely proud to be involved in,” she added.
“In particular, there are many services specifically targeted to the needs of young people, women, the LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning) community, Aboriginal people, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.”
As part of the reforms Housing Plus will take over the management of Lawson House.
Lawson House, which offers 11 crisis accommodation rooms for adults and families without children, was previously run by the Orange Community Accommodation Service.
Housing Plus will also oversee the domestic violence support organisation Operation Courage and provide additional services including early intervention.
Ms Andrew said Housing Plus would aim to be more flexible in the services it offered in an effort to better “meet the clients’ needs and preferences”.
“We will provide a mix of support from low to high intensity [accommodation] based on the clients’ assessed need and we will employ seven staff in the program with at least four being Aboriginal to support the target group,” she said.
tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.com.au
