The Trustees of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (NSW) ABN: 46 472 591 335 Ozanam Village 2C West Street Lewisham NSW 2049 PO Box 5 Petersham NSW 2049
Press release August 2, 2009 Homeless Persons Week August 2 - 8 2009
Telephone: (02) 9560 8666 Facsimile: (02) 9550 9383 Email: vinnies@vinnies.org.au Website: www.vinnies.org.au Donation Hotline: 13 18 12
Vinnies welcomes SW Action Plan on homelessness The launch of the NSW Action Plan on homelessness by the Federal and State Ministers for Housing, Tanya Plibersek MP and David Borger MP, took place at the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Ozanam Learning Centre on Sunday 2nd August at the beginning of homeless person’s week. Barbara Ryan, President, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW congratulated both Ministers for their commitment to addressing the complex issue of homelessness, particularly in regional areas. “The NSW Action Plan is an important step forward and one that is welcomed by the Society and the clients, volunteers and staff that access and work at our thirty-seven homeless and domestic violence refuges across the State” said Mrs Ryan. The State Action Plan provides the important “how to” ingredient from the Federal Government’s White Paper on Homelessness “The Road Home”. Mrs Ryan said the St Vincent de Paul Society fully supported the NSW regional planning and consultation process as outlined by Minister David Borger at the launch. “In our work across the State we see first hand how homelessness can look different in regional areas struggling against a myriad of issues. The drought for example has seen a huge increase in people losing their jobs, their farms and their homes with many ending up homeless and nowhere to go. With greater consultation and planning we can really begin to address and reduce homelessness in these areas.” The St Vincent de Paul Society also supports the Federal and State government’s plan to first offer housing to people who are experiencing or who are at risk of homelessness, to give them the support they need to work towards a more stable life. “With support and intervention, it is possible for some people to move through homelessness so it becomes a transient part of their personal story,” Mrs Ryan said. “Our work at Vinnies proves time and time again that with the appropriate support, we can take people out of situations of homelessness and support them back into independent living.” Mrs Ryan said sometimes all someone needed was the assistance to navigate an increasingly complex world: to fill in the forms, make the phone calls, or attend the meetings that were needed to secure housing. Others needed much more intense and longer-term support, but there were few people for whom homelessness could not be addressed if the necessary resources were made available. Cont…
Every day in NSW the Society assists thousands of people through Home Visitation, Migrant and Refugee Assistance, Hospital and Prison Visitation, Aged Care Services, Vinnies Centres, Supported Employment Services for People with an Intellectual Disability, Hostels for Homeless Men, Women and Families, Overseas Relief, Disaster Recovery, Budget Counselling and Youth Programs.
The Trustees of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (NSW) ABN: 46 472 591 335 Ozanam Village 2C West Street Lewisham NSW 2049 PO Box 5 Petersham NSW 2049
“We hear the statistics, that more than 105,000 people sleep rough every night in Australia and it seems daunting,” Mrs Ryan said. “It goes without saying that that level of homelessness is unacceptable in today’s world, especially in a wealthy country like Australia. Rather than be overwhelmed, we must remember that each of those people is an individual, often experiencing homelessness with their whole family, including their children.
Telephone: (02) 9560 8666 Facsimile: (02) 9550 9383 Email: vinnies@vinnies.org.au Website: www.vinnies.org.au Donation Hotline: 13 18 12
“Homelessness has many causes and complexities and often the experience of homelessness sees many adults, young people and children experience mental health illnesses. Mrs Ryan said the Society endorsed the whole of community approach including Government, the non-government sector and the community. We look forward to working with all levels of government and other non-government organisations, to make a real and genuine difference to the lives of the homeless in NSW; to help people get back on their feet and feel empowered about the choices and changes they can make in their lives. The St Vincent de Paul Society is the largest provider of homeless services in NSW accommodating over 1200 men women and children every night and providing case management; community outreach; healthcare services; education and job skills training. These services ensure ongoing support for independent living to maintain tenancies, jobs and a stable lifestyle. For further information contact: Julie McDonald, Manager, Community & Corporate Relations, St Vincent de Paul Society on 0406 335 348 or Marion Frith, Communications Manager on 0417 446 430
Every day in NSW the Society assists thousands of people through Home Visitation, Migrant and Refugee Assistance, Hospital and Prison Visitation, Aged Care Services, Vinnies Centres, Supported Employment Services for People with an Intellectual Disability, Hostels for Homeless Men, Women and Families, Overseas Relief, Disaster Recovery, Budget Counselling and Youth Programs.