Collaboration is Key

Hello, I’m Karen from the Housing Hub, a specialist homeless service funded by the Queensland Government’s Department of Housing. 

Karen, could you elaborate on the Housing Hub’s role within the community, particularly in collaboration with partners like TURSA? 

Certainly. The Housing Hub operates under specific program guidelines to address homelessness, both with and without accommodation. We work closely with outreach teams to identify and support individuals in our community who are experiencing homelessness. Currently, we provide accommodation for up to 160 individuals, offering them a safe and warm environment while they engage with our support services to rebuild their lives. 

How does the Housing Hub contribute to addressing the community’s needs, especially concerning employment and mental health support? 

Our approach is holistic. We understand that stable accommodation is crucial for individuals to maintain employment and engage effectively in the community. It becomes easier to sustain employment with a safe place to rest, shower, and launder clothes. Additionally, homelessness often exacerbates mental health issues, making it difficult for individuals to cope with the demands of work. Therefore, our focus is on providing emergency housing and facilitating access to mental health support services. 

Could you elaborate on the support services the Housing Hub and its partner organizations provide? 

Certainly. In addition to emergency housing, we offer various support services tailored to individual needs. This includes onsite mental health workers, alcohol and other drug support workers, and assistance with accessing legal aid and financial counselling. Collaborating with organisations like TURSA, we aim to address the multifaceted challenges individuals experiencing homelessness face. 

It sounds like the Housing Hub provides comprehensive support. How do you ensure that individuals relate to the appropriate services? 

Building relationships is critical. Our housing support workers closely engage with residents to identify their barriers and needs. We facilitate regular visits from mental health workers, legal aid representatives, and financial counsellors to ensure residents receive timely and tailored support. Moreover, our partners like TURSA are vital in providing employment assistance, further enhancing our residents’ prospects for stable housing and financial independence. 

It’s clear that the Housing Hub’s collaborative approach is significantly impacting the community. How do you measure the success of your programs? 

Success, for us, is measured by the positive trajectories of individuals we support. We witness remarkable transformations as individuals secure employment, address their mental health concerns, and transition to stable housing. Each success story is a testament to our team’s dedication and the effectiveness of our collaborative partnerships. TURSA dedicating resources to attend the HUB every week is proving invaluable as it provides an environment where trust can be built with people who have come from an environment where they trust no one. We now see our clients finding purpose and transitioning from a shallow point to feeling anticipation and hope for the future and potential employment. 

Thank you, Karen, for providing valuable insights into the work of the Housing Hub and its partners. Your efforts are making a tangible difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness in our community. 

Thank you for the opportunity to share our story. We remain committed to serving our community and empowering individuals to rebuild their lives with dignity and resilience.