Page 4842 - Week 11 - Thursday, 21 October 2010
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Although it is early days, the scheme has already had a significant impact. Already the street to home program has supported 21 long-term rough sleeping homeless people including three young people. Other transient homeless people have also been assisted with support, emergency food packs and connections to other supports.
The program provides trained, experienced staff who engage in active outreach with rough sleepers, many of whom do not usually engage well with mainstream services. The program provides services to people wherever they are. As we know, being homeless or at risk of homelessness does not just mean you require accommodation. Street to home provides assertive case management support for people who need it and connects them with other services available in our community.
Street to home has formed strong partnerships with other service providers and Housing ACT to provide an appropriate service mix, including housing, mental health, primary health and other support services. The service engages with a “who’s new on the streets” committee to help identify and monitor people who are homeless, particularly those new to the streets. Membership of this group includes the city parks rangers, the Australian Federal Police, Youth Support Services, the National Capital Authority, ACT Mental Health, the Drug and Alcohol Foundation Centreline and the emergency relief providers.
Madam Deputy Speaker, in summary this initiative represents an opportunity to provide real benefits to people who are homeless and vulnerable in our community. For those who have been rough sleeping for some time, this service will provide the long-term support required to turn their lives around.
As Anti-Poverty Week highlights, there is no dignity in poverty and disadvantage. Street to home represents an opportunity to restore dignity. Its potential should not be underestimated. On behalf of the whole community, I thank the St Vinnies group for the valuable work that they are doing in the street to home project and for our vulnerably broadly across the community.
Order of business
Ordered that notice No 2, executive business, relating to Carers Week, be postponed until a later hour this day.
Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Bill 2010
[Cognate bill:
Climate Change (Greenhouse Gas Emission Targets) Bill 2008 (No 2)]
Debate resumed from 19 October 2010, on motion by Mr Corbell:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: I remind members that the Assembly has agreed to debate this bill cognately with order of the day No 2 private members’ business, Climate Change (Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets) Bill 2008 (No 2). That being
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