Central Coast community housing provider Pacific Link, in collaboration with Newcastle University, has co-funded and released a research report about the impact of the Together Home program in addressing chronic homelessness.
The report, Together Home practitioners’ perspectives on building resilience and relationships, showcases the impact of the program through a housing first model with intensive and long-term support.
The Together Home program, funded by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, provides long-term housing and aims to improve personal wellbeing for individuals experiencing homelessness, particularly those street sleeping.
One success story to emerge from the program is Kevin, who endured more than five years of homelessness, losing touch with family and friends.
When he entered the Together Home program, he said it was a pivotal moment in his life.
“Together Home came into my life at one of the biggest forks in the road I’ve ever faced,” he said.
“I was at the lowest point, worn down economically and emotionally.”
The program transformed his life and he now has a secure home on the Central Coast and has reconnected with his loved ones.
Pacific Link Housing Community Partnerships and Support Coordination manager Nicole Harvey, who co-authored the report, said it highlighted the significance of a comprehensive support system in empowering individuals to rebuild their lives and forge meaningful connections.
“The success of the Together Home program can be attributed to a collective understanding that stable and secure housing is just the beginning,” Harvey said.
“The program practitioners provided the necessary resources, connections and support for individuals to regain their dignity and create lasting change.”
The program has provided stable and secure housing for 45 individuals who would have struggled to sustain a tenancy without wrap-around support and the dedication of the Pacific Link Housing team.
Newcastle University’s School of Humanities and Social Science lecturer Dr Kate Davies said the program changed people’s lives, especially those who had lost hope of ever having a home.
“The findings from this study teach us important lessons about how to end homelessness,” she said.
“Government and non-government partners need to work closely together, enabling safe and stable housing availability for everyone.”
Pacific Link Housing CEO Ian Lynch said he was proud of the transformative impact of the program.
“The success stories that have emerged from the Together Home program are a testament to our team and partners’ dedication and hard work,” he said.
“This research reinforces the need for comprehensive funding for support and underscores the importance of building thriving, inclusive communities that empower individuals in need.”
The report is available on Pacific Link Housing’s website www.pacificlink.org.au/publications
Source:
Pacific Link Housing