BBN / JUNE 2021
CatholicCare caseworker Jo with Natasha
CatholicCare on housing as a fundamental human need By Debra Vermeer Finding yourself homeless must rank as one of the most challenging things that could happen in life, but CatholicCare Diocese of Broken Bay’s Supported Temporary Accommodation (STA) program helps not only put an emergency roof over people’s heads, but assists them into more stable housing and a brighter future. “Being homeless is stressful,” says Sean MacKinnon, Practice Manager for CatholicCare’s housing and homelessness programs. “Housing is a fundamentally important human need, and noone functions the way they would normally function when they find themselves homeless. Our job is to help people through that situation. “We are funded by the Department of Communities and Justice to provide 28 /
crisis accommodation and link people to key services. We provide a case management model of support. It’s very short-term and intense and our work has to happen very quickly.” Sean says his small team of dedicated case workers provides practical and emotional support to the clients who are referred to them. “We’re dealing with people who come from a long history of things not going particularly well. Mental health is a huge factor for us, as well as substance abuse and histories of inter-generational trauma. “It’s important that our clients feel safe and supported. Our super-lean team does everything in our power to improve their situations.” Ken, who is aged in his 60s, was referred to CatholicCare’s STA program when he had nowhere to go after being released from
hospital following treatment for a chronic condition. The Department of Housing found him emergency accommodation in a local motel, but the upstairs location of his room wasn’t suitable for his medical condition. “They organised for Sean to pick me up and take me to a transitional residence and I was there for five weeks,” Ken says. “In that five weeks, Sean worked his backside off to find me a ground floor unit for permanent accommodation and I’ve been here now since May 2017. “I’m pretty sure he more or less saved my life. And he’s still very caring about me, checking in on me all the time to make sure I’m going OK.” Julie found herself suddenly homeless when the place she was living in with her young adult son caught fire.
