News

Hundreds secure housing via ‘Together Home Program’ win

AT 30, ‘Rachel’ found herself homeless and spent 18 months sleeping rough and couch surfing with friends she made on the streets.

However her life took a positive turn when she was referred to the Together Home Program.
Receiving intensive wraparound supports to get her life back on track, Hume Community Housing, one of the Together Home providers, secured long-term housing for Rachel in Bankstown and they continue working closely together to help maintain her tenancy.
While there is still a long recovery ahead, she is improving her independent living skills and looking after her physical well-being by going to the gym regularly.
Hume employees say they have seen a massive improvement in Rachel, who since being housed has been able to take control of addictions which saw her subject to four inpatient admissions over the past two years for treatment of mental illnesses and detoxification. She has also developed a closer relationship with her mother.
Rachel (not her real name) is one of 645 people previously sleeping rough across the state to have secured housing since April through the Together Home program, with Treasurer Dominic Perrottet announcing a further $29 million expansion in the State Budget and bringing the total investment in the program to date to $65 million.
“We are helping break the cycle of homelessness,” Mr Perrottet said.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, Gareth Ward, said the needs of rough sleepers were “often highly complex”. “This initiative is delivering life-changing outcomes by providing them with a roof over the head, combined with the wraparound support services to break the cycle of homelessness,” he said.