Housing Support
Being thrown out of your home is a daunting prospect for any family.
We see many families that have found themselves on the downhill spiral towards homelessness, due to unemployment or an illness. Too often, they have no extended family to turn to or any other means of support.
Windermere’s Housing Support Service is an outreach case management service for individuals and families who are homeless, in emergency accommodation or facing the real possibility of losing their home. We assist families to negotiate their way through the housing and accommodation system, by providing information and support to successfully secure long-term accommodation.
We also assess the health and wellbeing of the children and the family, and help families to access the services they need to break the cycle of homelessness and improve life choices. Examples of ways we help individuals and families in need, include:
- Providing someone to advocate for them to landlords or to the Office of Housing in an effort to delay or prevent possible evictions
- Creating clear pathways to financial counselling, family support services, drug and alcohol counselling, and disability or psychological support services
- Finding a place for them to stay for a little while in crisis accommodation or in a motel; anywhere out of the cold, out of the car, or away from ongoing violence in the home
- Assisting people to find and secure, long-term housing, whether it be within the public housing sector, shared or rental accommodation.
Partnerships
We work closely with emergency housing workers and other service providers as part of a coordinated approach to improving the living situation of families.
Eligibility
This service is available to families with dependent children in the Casey and Cardinia catchments, who are without permanent accommodation or are at risk of homelessness. Families not in this area who require housing assistance, should contact the Department of Human Services on 1300 555 516 or their local council.
Costs
Our Housing Support Service is provided free of charge. For more information please contact us.