Page 1451 - Week 04 - Thursday, 4 April 2019
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(3) Does the Minister have any plans to assist Safe Shelter to be open all year around as opposed to only during the colder months.
Ms Berry: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) There are no specific conditions regarding opening hours, including the Christmas shutdown period, in Uniting Care Canberra City’s Deed of Grant for the provision of the Early Morning Centre (EMC). The EMC extended their opening hours in October 2017, through the 2017-18 Strengthening Homelessness Services Budget Initiative. The current hours are Monday to Friday: 7:30am-8:30am for breakfast and 9:00am to 2.00pm for a drop-in centre and support services. In 2018-19, the ACT Government funds Uniting Care $313,817 to provide this service.
In relation to OneLink, the Service Funding Agreement (SFA) has a stipulation that OneLink is required to open on business days. A business day is defined as “any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in the Territory”. Therefore, OneLink is not required to provide services on public holidays. A recent variation of the SFA as a result of the 2018-19 More Support for Frontline Homelessness Services budget funding initiative has enabled OneLink to begin providing services on Saturdays and Sundays from March 2019. $586,000 will be provided over four years for OneLink to extend its operating hours and access brokerage funds, so that appropriate crisis support can be provided at the time it’s needed.
Generally, the ACT Specialist Homelessness Sector advise clients of closures (including public holidays such as Christmas) and provide information to them regarding general support, such as the police, LifeLine, Domestic Violence Crisis Service and where to find free food, that they can access over these periods should they find themselves in a crisis situation.
(2) The Christmas Domestic Violence Christmas Program (DVCP) report 540 total bed nights were provided during the 2018-19 program. All clients supported during this time have now transitioned to other supports and accommodation. Some clients have entered the programs of the agency that supported them during the DVCP - including transitional accommodation and support. Some clients returned home when safe to do so and others who are clients of Housing ACT have been assisted to transfer to alternative properties.
(3) Safe Shelter has not approached the ACT Government for assistance. There are no plans at this time to assist Safe Shelter. The ACT Government continues to have reservations in creating overnight shelters which do not provide clear pathways to long-term accommodation. Australian and international evidence shows that placing large concentrations of people facing disadvantage in temporary accommodation does not provide good social outcomes and can exacerbate trauma and cyclic homelessness. People experiencing or at risk of homelessness may access the ACT’s Integrated Human Services Gateway, OneLink who provide information regarding accommodation and connects them to human services and programs that meet their needs.
Disability services—funding
(Question No 2159)
Ms Lee asked the Minister for Disability, upon notice, on 15 February 2019:
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