United and proactive for those in crisis

CONTINUING to provide their essential crisis support throughout the COVID-19 emergency, Uniting Ballarat has experienced a rise in people needing help due to homelessness and family violence.

The organisation’s team has been delivering phone and direct face-to-face services as safely as possible, distributing material aid, and running the BreezeWay meal program, but an “influx” of new clients is elsewhere.

Acting coordinator housing and homelessness, Adam Liversage said there’s been a 75 percent increase of people contacting Uniting Ballarat as an “entry point” to homelessness and a “massive” rise in family violence cases.

“We’ve assisted over 137 households in hotels and motels…since the pandemic has begun. We’ve seen a lot of phone calls coming through from people fleeing family violence, or wanting to seek services regarding family violence,” he said.

“Our Street to Home team…has been dropping off hampers to homeless people at hotels and motels who have no support whatsoever, and touching base with them.

“They still provide outreach to rough sleepers on the streets or out in bush areas, and have contact with them. We’re an essential service and required by State government to provide these things, mindful of social distancing.”

Mr Liversage said vulnerable people are even travelling from outside of Ballarat to make contact with his team, who are finding it “really difficult” to fully connect to clients remotely.

“A lot of homeless people are coming from Melbourne because they may be paranoid, or they’re scared to be around a lot of people.

“It’s also hard to get a take on a client via phone contact if you’ve never met them. You lose that personal response and can’t get the full story,” he said.

BreezeWay has been giving individuals two or three meals to take away at one time, to reduce crowds as there can be up to 75 people gathering each day.

Material aid demand has slowed slightly, but is running as normal as possible, with pre-prepared packs and vouchers collected quickly and safely by clients.

As restrictions ease, Uniting Ballarat will “pick up the pieces,” ensuring everyone who has presented as homeless during this period, and those who have been placed in temporary accommodation, continue to get adequate support.

“We’ll look at their longer-term housing options. We have our private rental assistance program who are going to be flat out, with people experiencing rental arrears and loss of income.

“In the last month alone, they spent $70,000 on mostly rental arrears, and rental advances. We have had State government funding into that program, with a boost of an extra $168,000 for three months,” Mr Liversage said.

“We’re going to be flat out with every program, across the board. Our alcohol and drug program will probably see an influx of referrals, as well as material aid and welfare.”

Anyone requiring assistance can contact Uniting Ballarat’s office number on 5332 1286.