Club Dinner Meeting – “Stable One Homelessness Projects”

TOPIC          :  Stable One Homelessness Projects

SPEAKER   :  Jenny Willets – Lilydale Baptist Church – Project Facilitator

Winter Night Shelter Pilot Project  –   June – September 2017…….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl3SZX8VA9o.

This project ran for thirteen weeks this winter and provided crisis shelter accommodation for a total of 30 men and women experiencing homelessness in the Yarra Ranges. It offered a safe, caring, community environment for guests to receive refreshment, care, hope and rest with:

• a warm welcome
• an evening meal
• the opportunity to socialise and enjoy community
• the option to wash or shower
• a cozy, comfortable bed
• a light breakfast
• help to link into other services/agencies

The project was managed by Stable One in partnership with local churches. It operated entirely with volunteers who had been vetted and received training. Seven church buildings with kitchen and toilet facilities, as well as large rooms for dormitories were utilised. Each took one night of the week on a rotation basis.

In order to provide a safe and comfortable environment for everyone, all guests underwent risk-assessment before being invited to the Shelter for the night. Alcohol and illicit drug use were not permitted. Children were not eligible for the Shelter and under 25s were only permitted after careful evaluation. Once invited, guests were given the opportunity to book in on a daily basis for the Shelter at breakfast each morning.

This was a low-cost project, run solely by volunteers. Funds were raised for insurance, printing and stationery, laundry and purchasing equipment:

• stretcher beds
• sheets
• blankets
• pillows
• pillow cases
• pillow protectors
• towels
• toiletries
• trailer to move and store equipment
• fuel
• laundry
• printing/office costs