8752 Hope Newsletter Summer 2021

When education means elevation towards dream job As part of the HopeStreet team, client support worker Nicole connects clients to services in mental health and drug and alcohol prevention, and advocates for healthy living and community programs.

“Giving people a safe space to be themselves, to be comfortable, to be respected and not judged is very powerful for all of us at HopeStreet.

There is an incredible sense of connection and community,” said Nicole.

The 39-year-old mum-of-two from Wollongong secured her ‘dream role’ after undertaking work placement for her Certificate III in Community Services course in 2019.

“I love everything about TAFE Digital. I learn better online, and I can study when I want, at my own pace, which makes me feel less pressured,” she said.

HopeStreet Port Kembla Manager Dianne Frohmuller said Nicole has been an hopestreet.org.au

invaluable addition to the centre. “Nicole is an innately kind person and combined with the practical skills she has learnt through TAFE NSW, she has quickly become an integral part and much-loved member of the HopeStreet family,” Dianne said.

This year Nicole has continued her education and completed a Certificate IV in Community Services and a Diploma of Community Services. She has also undertaken a Statement of Attainment in Domestic and Family Violence Frontline Skills in Mental Health for Working with Forced Migrants. She is currently studying a Diploma of Mental Health.

“I have had some tough personal experiences in my own life and discovered amazing support. It’s made me more compassionate, I knew I wanted to help my community and give that same support to others.”

“The courses are very practical – what I’m learning I put into practice at work daily when I’m talking with people and interacting. TAFE NSW caters to all ages and education levels – there were no barriers for me; it felt very accessible.”

THE DREAM TEAM From 26 June to 19 October, Nicole and the Port Kembla team delivered... $60,397 worth of food parcels to 1,257 people $4,183 in other emergency relief to 2258 people; 29% increase on previous three months.

10% increase in referrals have been received from community service agencies 60 clients have received casework support over the phone

Summer 2021

HOMELESSNESS

‘ Like having a full-time job on top of a full-time job’ SKY-ROCKETING RENT The title is a line from Maid – a Netflix drama – about being homeless. It resonated so deeply with Trina*. Through tears, Trina shared how she lived this after ending her lease due to a rent increase.

It left her without a home for two and a half months.

Studying at TAFE and supported by government benefits, Trina pleaded to stay when she realised her and her daughter would be homeless.

She owned a campervan, but it wasn’t suitable for her little girl, so her ex-partner took their daughter in.

“I thought it would be weeks of my daughter living with her dad.

She can still go to school, go to swimming lessons, and I’ll see her each day… but I honestly had no idea I wouldn’t be able to find a house.”

Trina was studying and viewing up to five houses a day. She put in 48 rental applications.

She’d shower at the beach, and as winter closed in, Trina experienced the flu and increasing migraines. She knew she could afford the rent but

was unemployed and a single mum. She knows this went against her in every application.

Trina found HopeStreet a few weeks into being homeless.

Greeted by a case worker on arrival, exhausted and full of shame, she shared her story. Each morning, she was welcomed at HopeStreet.

She’d have a hot shower while breakfast and coffee were made. Trina would charge her laptop, blow dry her hair, get dressed, and head off to TAFE with a takeaway lunch from the HopeStreet kitchen.

“The staff would give me house listings, support, and every Friday, the amazing mobile laundry, Orange Sky, did my washing. I felt so comfortable and happy at HopeStreet, they lifted your spirits. You can’t imagine what it was like to have a hot shower; that made all the difference.”

On her forty-ninth application, and with an offer to pay three month’s rent up-front, Trina caught a break. She set up house with her belongings from storage and welcomed her

Source of data: CoreLogic data, 26 October 2021 https://www.corelogic.com.au/news/australian-rents-increase-fastest-annual-rate-2008 hopestreet.org.au

ustralia records A highest annual growth in rent since 2008 9% jump in rent on average in 2021 12.5% was largest jump 7.5% average increase in cities $453p.w average rural rent $500p.w average city rent 1.7% wage increase is slow in comparison to rent rises

daughter home. After settling in, Trina realised she could earn a living with her trade and she now runs a barber shop, offering HopeStreet clients a discount as a way of giving back.

“I had moments thinking, ‘when will this be over?’ but I didn’t get depressed. It was cold at night, freezing, and the last place I wanted to be. I wanted to be brushing my daughter’s teeth each night and making her breakfast, kissing her goodnight in our own home.

That’s the one thing that kept me going.” * Names have been changed. Images are for illustration purposes.

Summer 2021

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CHRISTMAS APPEAL

Give connection this Christmas It’s been a tough year. Tougher still for those who haven’t had a home to isolate or feel safe in, who don’t have the technology to connect with loved ones; and those who have outlived their family.

Across our 16 HopeStreet locations, connection is the most vital resource we can offer this Christmas.

Of course, our delivery looks different with safety a key focus. But everything is different this year. Events are tentative, our food relief partners have run out of hamper allocations, and non-perishable food items are limited. Despite this, our HopeStreet teams are determined to spark hope and joy in their communities.

HopeStreet Wallsend manager, Craig Budden, nailed it when he said, “Every community is different. We know our community. And we know where the gaps are in support of it. For us, we know one of those is family support around the festive season.”

In other locations, it looks different, like building and rebuilding relationships with women and children accessing our Domestic Violence Supported Accommodation.

And working with families in the hard-hit western suburbs because there are health issues, housing concerns, or financial problems they want to tackle in a collaborative way.

“For us, it’s all about strengthening families and just trying to make people’s Christmas a little brighter, and more connected,” said Stephen Pederson at HopeStreet Mt Druitt.

David Gibson and his HopeStreet Windale team will do the very best they can for Christmas. “I think a lot of it is emotional support - actually being seen is big. Our reach and range will be targeted to people we know really need it.”

Here, they’ll give little gifts, like hygiene packs. “For most, that’s the only gift they’ll get. A lot of our people, especially men, don’t have great connections with family or their loved ones may no longer be around.”

“HopeStreet teams are determined to

spark hope, and joy in their communities.”

It’s a similar story at HopeStreet Inner City.

“Re-engagement and connection is our primary concern. Our community is resilient, however they really miss the social aspect of our centre,” said Tina Camera, site manager.

“We work with quite a vulnerable population in and around Woolloomooloo, like the elderly who live by themselves and people experiencing homelessness.

They may come for breakfast or a coffee and that’s really their only engagement.”

SCAN THE QR CODE Discover more ways we’re bringing connection and hope to our communities this Christmas, and how you can help make it happen.

Please make a generous gift to our Christmas Appeal.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

When no news is bad news…

Elizabeth Hukins, Acting General Manager, shares the experience of our teams as they feared for the safety of women and children experiencing violence during lockdown.

For the second half of this year our HopeStreet and Counselling teams were again waiting; to hear from women, determining when and how might be a safe time to reach out, and fearing the silence.

In August we shared with ABC's The Drum and ABC News about how home schooling and working from home added pressure to already tense households, while restrictions put in place to keep people safe and healthy put some women and children at risk. Those circuit breakers of leaving the house (work, school, friends), even reaching out to support services, all came to a grinding halt.

We spoke about an increase in all types of violence, and particularly forecast that coercive control and intimidation would escalate whilst a perpetrator was in the home hopestreet.org.au

more permanently. It became increasingly complex for our counsellors and case workers to assist women experiencing violence. The windows of opportunity for us to connect with clients were often fleeting.

Weeks out from Christmas and we’re all beginning to reemerge. Only time will tell what trauma women and children are carrying. What this means for our clients and us, as we reconnect and deliver services, truly waits to be seen.

We pray for respite from the 24/7 fear some women lived through. We are profoundly hopeful that women will talk, share, and seek help that is available.

Our staff haven’t re-emerged unscathed, and we continue to support them as they go about their days as counsellors, case workers, cooks, administrators and tenancy workers.

Our commitment remains. We continue to come alongside people with emergency relief, no interest loans, safety planning, court support, case work and counselling, and referrals to other services, including health and housing.

We continue to welcome people, with authenticity and compassion, because we know joy can be had again and safety can be reached, even if the darkness of the shadows is nearby. We believe there’s hope, this Christmas and beyond, for women and children subject to violence. * Images are for illustration purposes.

Read the ABC News article here

HOW TO SEEK HELP If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available now. Phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or 000 if you are in immediate danger.

Other support services • BaptistCare Counselling & Family Services 1300 130 225 • Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491 • Lifeline 13 11 14 • Kids Help Line 1800 55 1800

Summer 2021

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AFFORDABLE FOOD

Rescued food makes its way to seniors Foodbank Australia’s 2020 Hunger Report says people seeking food relief has doubled between 2019 (15%) to 2020 (31%), and we’re not surprised.

Our teams are seeing a huge increase in demand and are providing support for people who have not experienced food insecurity before.

In addition, two in five (42%) people were already experiencing food insecurity pre-COVID on low incomes or pensions, including some of our senior community housing tenants. At BaptistCare Clinton Place, Goulburn, senior tenants have thankfully secured affordable housing, but many are still doing all they can to stretch their dollar including skipping meals and missing vital components of a balanced diet.

Thanks to a new partnership with Woolworths (via the Canberra Region Joint Organisation’s food donation network), and the generosity of a local bakery, BaptistCare tenants in Goulburn are now

receiving free cuts of meat, eggs, grocery items, bread and pastries.

Joan Holding, Tailored Support Coordinator at Clinton Place collects the food three times a week and sees firsthand the wonderful impact it has on tenants’ wellbeing.

“Our tenants have been overwhelmed by the generosity of local businesses. It’s a great help to them financially with additional benefits like ensuring access to healthy serves of protein, bread and eggs, as well as some treats like pastries and sandwiches,” said Joan.

“Some tenants don’t have a car so me being able to collect food and make it available onsite is also a great help. Going into town isn’t always easy for them, while keeping away from the shops when we see COVID-19 in our local area has also been important.”

Joan says having the food available onsite is helpful for a few of the tenants who have

been hesitant about asking for it. “We know sometimes people may feel a bit embarrassed about seeking assistance with food; or they tend to think there’s someone in more need than they are. Having the food here and available for tenants when they need it means they can access extra food anytime.”

As well as filling cupboards, food being diverted from landfills is another great outcome. “Rescuing good quality food from landfill contributes to reducing greenhouse gases and is better for our environment. It’s a winwin when it can be of great value to others,” says Joan.

RISING HUNGER

3 in 10 Australians now experiencing food insecurity had not gone hungry before the pandemic.

In ONE year, hunger has doubled:

15% - 2019 31% - 2020

Pre-COVID FOOD INSECURITY fuelled by low incomes/pensions 2 in 5 (42%) people

FoodBank Australia Hunger Report 2020, 2019

Tenant Jaci and Joan with rescued food from Woolworths hopestreet.org.au

Summer 2021

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“Every community is different.

We know our community. And we know where the gaps are in support of it.”

Our 16 HopeStreet teams need your help to spark hope and joy through connection this Christmas.

PLEASE DONATE TODAY

hopestreet.org.au/donate

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Our Purpose: Transforming Lives By Expressing The Love Of Christ. Our Values: Love | Respect | Reliability | Empowerment