E
FRE
November 6, 2012
Your independent local newspaper
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Issue 45
Ph: 4325 7369
Prime Minister opens community centre
Coast Shelter’s Vicki de Carle, Laurie Maher, Prime Minister Ms Julia Gillard, Member for Robertson Ms Deborah O’Neill, Gavin Shepherd, and Penny Williams of Coast Shelter
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he new Laurie Maher Coast Community Centre in Gosford was officially opened on Friday, November 2.
The Coast Community Centre is a community partnership that involves government departments, welfare agencies, businesses, churches, schools and volunteers working together to provide support and meals to those in need. The facility enables peoples to connect, build friendships, feel part of their community and either obtain or provide assistance. The Centre provides access to a range of
support services and help to those doing it tough to maintain their tenancies and mortgages. Much of this assistance works towards what the Federal Government refers to as “turning off the tap” in addressing homelessness. It focuses on intervening early and providing a wide range of support to help people overcome their crises. The Coast Community Centre is an energy efficient building and includes solar
panels to reduce energy consumption and generate renewable energy credits to be fed back to the grid, a water tank to reuse rainwater for toilets and gardens, energy efficient air conditioning, energy saving lighting throughout the building, water saving showers for clients and a laundry fitted with energy and water efficient machines for clients. It provides five consultation offices to deliver services, a disability
lift, which will provide access to the restaurant, offices and meeting rooms from street level, administrative offices to manage Coast Shelter’s various programs, security-intercom system to provide added safety to volunteers serving meals, a large meeting and conference room available to community groups, computer and telephone networking and a 70 seat restaurant where free meals will be provided by volunteers. Services provided by Coast Shelter and other agencies include tenancy
advice and advocacy, No Interest Loans (NILS) for people on low incomes to purchase essential household items, free legal advice every Monday by Central Coast Community Legal Centre, regular visits from Centrelink community engagement officer, energy vouchers (EAPA) to help people having difficulty paying gas and-or electricity bills, pharmaceutical assistance to fill prescriptions for clients experiencing financial hardship, food hampers made up from donated items, Rentstart kiosk
providing a link to Housing NSW via fax and phone for rent assistance, shower and laundry facilities available every day, fresh towels, toiletries and clothes, free shampoo and haircuts every week, free podiatry checkups every three months, visits from Mobile Oral Health Van, assistance with furniture and whitegoods from donations and a Men’s Shed which operates Monday and Friday each week. Media release, 29 Oct 2012 Vicki de Carle, Coast Shelter