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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Thursday, 11 March 2004) . . Page.. 1232 ..

same family unit. Lifeline CEAS collect a range of data, however the Lifeline philosophy of anonymity means that they cannot be identified if they make contact subsequently.

(5) Lifeline has referred callers to the following ACT Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) services:

Young People - Belleden Youth Refuge; Canberra Youth Refuge; LASA Youth Centre; Lowana Young Women’s Service.

Single Men - Samaritan House; Minosa House.

Women – Caroline Chisholm House; Inanna; Karinya House Home for Mothers and Babies; Toora.

Callers are also referred to crisis accommodation provided through the Emergency Accommodation Fund (EAF), which includes motel accommodation, caravans and cabins and back-packer accommodation.

Lifeline also refers callers to crisis accommodation services in Queanbeyan, Cooma and Goulburn and provides information on longer-term accommodation options and support services within the ACT.

(6) The $205 000 allocated to the CEAS services has been distributed to Lifeline and Anglicare. Lifeline received $80 500 in the first year of operation and expended $73 700. The discrepancy in funds allocated arises from a delay in the service employing staff upon establishment.

Anglicare’s first year allocation was $125 000. Reports received from Anglicare to date indicate that they expended all funds.

In September 2003 additional funds were provided to Anglicare CEAS to enhance and expand the service:

• $93 000 (GST inclusive) provided non-recurrently for pre-leasing an additional 6 accommodation sites (funding provided through the Homelessness Initiatives identified in the 2004 budget process). These funds were provided in full in September 2003.

• $5 000 (GST inclusive) provided non-recurrently for expanded administration costs (funding provided through the Homelessness Initiatives identified in the 2004 budget process). These funds were provided in full in September 2003.

• $179 540 (GST inclusive) provided recurrently for expanded service provision and capacity enhancement (funding provided through the Homelessness Initiatives identified in the 2004 budget process) These funds are provided quarterly in-advance and therefore a payment of $44 885 (GST inclusive) was made in September 2003.

(7) The service has never been inoperable, however, there may have been times in the previous six months when callers may have been unable to reach the emergency accommodation line. In the event that a caller to any one of Lifeline’s telephone services, including the emergency accommodation line, is identified as a high risk suicide or is engaging in an attempted suicide, then all incoming lines are blocked to enable staff to focus on responding to that person and to call the appropriate emergency services. In these instances, callers attempting to reach the emergency accommodation service receive an engaged signal.

(8) a) The total of the Emergency Accommodation Fund (EAF) for the first year of operation was $63 500.

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