Are you currently homeless? Then you are not alone. The recent census figures indicate that homelessness in Australia has increased to 14%. Most of the victims are below 35.
There’s no perfect time to be homeless. But the return of winter comes with various challenges if you don’t have shelter. Being on the streets in fall and winter is risky to your health, but can it be hard to know where to seek help or support?
There are various ways homeless people can get support and ensure they have somewhere they can call home.
- Accessing housing services or shelter
If you are on the verge of becoming homeless, the first thing to do is contact a homeless shelter in Adelaide. You can call a hotline or visit the community-designated family support services. Your community might have a homeless hotline or an agency/organization that acts as the front door to getting help. For instance, Salvation Army has a program duped as “Do unto Others” that reaches out to the vulnerable, marginalized, and homeless people.
You can also identify different providers and determine if they have an extra shelter bed or other provisions like health care and food. A perfect place to start is your local church, food pantry, social service non-profit, and library.
2. Determine how best to support you
A safer, alternative shelter is a better way to solve your housing woes. It would help if you explored various options other than housing. Provider staff might try to assist you in preserving your current home (if you have one) and solve conflicts that prevent you from living there. They might negotiate with family or friends to extend your housing and even help you with utilities and rent.
- If shelter is the only alternative,
If you cannot stay where you slept last night or there’s no safe option, the provider staff will assess your needs and strength relative to others who need shelter beds. They might ask how long you’ve been on the streets if you have kids, your salary, criminal records, and employment history. These questions aren’t meant to disqualify you from the family support services but to create a good match for services you might qualify for.
- Assessing permanent shelter needs or preference
Apart from determining if you need shelter, this evaluation will explore all your housing preferences and needs. The process happens in phases with various providers depending on your needs. However, it’s meant to assist you in moving as fast as possible from your situation back to your house.
3. Prioritizing shelter and housing
Assistance for those on the streets. Unfortunately, most communities in Australia have people sleeping on the streets and don’t have enough housing or shelter. However, communities that don’t have many people living outside will priorities people and family depending on common aspects that show how unsafe and vulnerable their condition is and how close they are to housing problems.
Specialized services are available for a specific homeless population, like young people, domestic violence victims, and veterans.
4. Referral to housing or/and shelter
Refereed to shelter/housing: once the provider staff has assessed and discovered your needs, vulnerability, and strength, you might be referred to a shelter bed. You’ll be placed on the waiting list if you aren’t referred. It depends on whether your community makes shelter referrals, so make sure you ask what to expect or do if you are not referred.
Referred to housing resources: apart from being referred to a shelter bed, the provider staff will share information as to what resources might be available to you. There’s no assurance, but you might be referred to housing resources like permanent supportive housing.
5. Seek help from the Australian Red Cross
Red Cross believes that everyone deserves an affordable, secure, safe home. The organization has programs that assist people who are homeless like you. They’ll help you find safe and suitable housing through caseworkers.
The organization supports people on the verge of losing their homes by negotiating with landlords, assisting people in getting their rent and tenancy payments on track, and finding proper accommodation.
So, the agency is ready to offer help irrespective of what you are going through. They also offer support and meals if you are experiencing housing issues. Offering regular and reliable meals for individuals who might go without. Most of these people are homeless.
There are many ways to get help and support when you are homeless. While the government plays a huge role in reducing the rates of homelessness, numerous family support services and organizations support, fund, and shelter homeless people. All you need to do is find the right option that fits your needs.
