Coast and Country Primary Care’s (CCPC) Health on The Streets (HoTS) service has continued to run regular hubs at Mary Macs Place, Woy Woy, every Monday from 10am-1pm during the COVID lockdown, supporting people sleeping rough.
World Homeless Day on Sunday, October 10, was a reminder of people in our community experiencing hardship and the services that are available to support them, including the hardworking and dedicated HoTS team at CCPC.
The program, supported by Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, is funded by the Federal Government to deliver the program across the Central Coast.
More than 60 people sleeping rough on the Central Coast have been supported into accommodation by the HoTS mobile health clinic for people experiencing homelessness, taking healthcare and support services to rough sleepers experiencing homelessness across the Central Coast.
“Our HoTS Team has continued to provide this service to our community through the current health pandemic to some of our most vulnerable community members,” CCPC Chief Executive, Kathy Beverley, said.
“Over the past 12 months our outreach workers have assisted 30 people to be permanently housed, with an additional 33 people assisted to attain various temporary accommodation options.
“A major part of our service involves building rapport and trust with our clients, which allows us to then make referrals to appropriate programs and services.”
As well as the regular hubs held at Mary Macs Place and at Coast Shelter, Gosford, every Thursday from 10am- 1pm, the team provides assertive outreach across the Central Coast, responding to referrals from various community organisations, businesses, and community members.
Registered nurses provide comprehensive health assessments including: Primary Health; Public/Sexual Health; Mental Health; and Drug and Alcohol.
“The past 12 months has seen our Outreach Workers provide over 550 interactions with clients, with our registered nurses having provided over 1200 clinical interventions,” Beverley said.
“This has included assisting 21 people to receive their COVID vaccinations over the last three months, with our nurses also detecting five positive COVID cases in our community through opportunistic testing from our HoTS van..
Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, said the Federal Government has provided $945,000 in funding for the HoTS program.
“HoTS make a real difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” she said.
“I cannot commend this team enough for their hard work and dedication.”
Source:
Media release, Oct 8
Member for Robertson,
Lucy Wicks