Homelessness Support

Homelessness Entry Point

The Homelessness Entry Point aims to provide a timely service response for people when they first make contact with the homelessness services system by:

  • providing clear entry points to the system
  • supporting a consistent service response for people seeking assistance
  • enabling a more transparent allocation of available resources.

The Homelessness Entry Point provides people with assistance through assessment and planning which includes:

  • screening to determine if homelessness services are the appropriate response for the person seeking assistance
  • an initial needs-based assessment that includes:
  • a safety and risk assessment
  • identification of the person’s immediate and longer-term housing and support needs
  • the development of a course of action to access required services
  • referral to appropriate housing, support and material aid services
  • monitoring the person’s access to services while waiting for other services.

The target group for the Homelessness Entry Point is people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

To make a referral to our Homelessness Entry Point team, for yourself or a community member, please fill out the referral form HERE.

To get in contact with the Homelessness Entry Point team, email homelessness@wathaurong.org.au or visit us at Level 1, 8 Station Street Norlane.

Housing First Program

Housing First Program aims to achieve long-term housing, employment, education, health and wellbeing outcomes for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Client support provides a case management response which can also include:

Assessment & referral

Care coordination

Counselling, crisis resolution

Personal care, life skills training, training & employment opportunities

Information & advocacy

Assistance with accessing appropriate housing

Case workers also provide direct support, which typically includes assistance to meet the goals and outcomes identified in a person’s case plan. Support can be provided, irrespective of a person’s existing living arrangement for example in rooming houses, transitional housing, squats and other informal arrangements.

The target group for Housing First is people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness who require multi-disciplinary response.

 

Aboriginal Private Rental Assistance Program Broker

The APRAP Broker role will develop and maintain relationships with key property managers and relevant services that will benefit the Aboriginal Community accessing housing and homelessness support from Wathaurong and living in the Barwon Region. Desired outcome is to increase the likelihood of Aboriginal People accessing the private rental market.

The APRAP Broker will be focused on generating and maintaining private rental access opportunities for community rather than direct community member support.

Email homelessness@wathaurong.org.au to get in touch with the APRAP broker.

Aboriginal Private Rental Assistance Program Plus

The APRAP Plus Worker will provide outreach service for households living in or entering private rental tenancies.  APRAP position works alongside the APRAP broker to provide additional support to households to establish or maintain their housing.   

 APRAP Plus is designed to: 

  • Provide time limited outreach to support tenancies 
  • Address issues which are contributing to the risk of tenancy breakdown 
  • Achieve outcomes that lead to successful, sustainable private rental tenancies 
  • Reduce preventable exits from private rental 
  • Prevent homelessness 
  • APRAP Plus is not primarily an office based position, while APRAP Plus will work alongside the Private Rental Broker, it is an outreach position. Staff will primarily work with clients in the communities where they live. 

APRAP Plus is not designed to assist community who have existing support from other housing support programs

Aboriginal Tenants At Risk

The Aboriginal Tenants at Risk (ATAR) program provides assistance to people who are current tenants of the Office of Housing or Aboriginal Housing Victoria and who have been identified as being at risk of losing their tenancy. The program aims to sustain existing tenancies and establish new tenancies. ATAR provides free and independent support which is delivered in a confidential, culturally-appropriate, non-judgmental manner.

Other services offered by this program included assistance with:

Provide limited financial support

Work with tenants to help them maintain their tenancies

Assist community at VCAT hearings

Liaise with Aboriginal Housing Victoria and Office of Housing

Advocate between Landlords and Tenants

Advocate to resolve rent issues

For more information on the Aboriginal Tenants at Risk (ATAR) program, email homelessness@wathaurong.org.au

Emergency Housing

Wathaurong does not have emergency housing services, although there may be other things we can do to assist you with your situation. Contact us Monday to Friday 9am-5pm on (03) 5277 0044 or email homelessness@wathaurong.org.au.

If you are in immediate need of emergency housing, if you are homeless, at risk of homelessness or escaping family violence and need accommodation, call the statewide 24-hour toll free number 1800 825 955 to speak with a housing and support worker.