A SHORT/MEDIUM term transitional housing facility for older women will officially open in Fremantle this week.
Wyn Carr House, which will provide residents with a roof for up to 12 months, was a former domestic violence shelter which has been reimagined by charities Uniting WA and Housing All Australians.
Uniting WA Co-CEO Michael Chester said there had been a noticeable increase in the number of women over 50 years old facing homeless, as their generation often prioritised their family over financial independence such as building a superannuation nest egg.
The facility includes 12 bedrooms with ensuites, communal indoor and outdoor spaces, open plan living areas, counselling and group therapy rooms, staff facilities, all just 600 metres from the health services, public transport, grocery stores, and recreational areas of Fremantle’s town centre.
The designs were done by local company Cox Architects, who extended the original 1923 building through a trauma informed lens.
More than 20 individuals and private companies donated around $1 million in goods and services to support the restoration, which has also received financial support from the WA Department of Communities.
Mr Chester oversees Uniting’s 24/7 frontline work, with roughly 500 employees, and 200 volunteers supporting 250-300 homeless people every day.
He sees his role as “being there for people who need guidance, advice, and support; in a nutshell, to break down the barriers that prevent people from working efficiently and effectively” to support the needs of their community.
Although he works mostly behind the scenes, he is on site at Tranby Engagement Hub every day, providing crisis support to meet homeless people’s daily needs – including showers, laundry and food.
•Homelessness minister Matthew Swinbourn, Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk and housing minister John Carey check out the facilities in the revamped Wyn Carr House. Photo supplied
“It’s less frontline and more secondary support, but I appreciate the opportunity to see firsthand the impacts of homelessness,” Mr Chester said.
Spreading the word about financial relief such as the Cook government’s Rent Relief Program is also crucial in making sure people get the support they need in time.
“It’s far cheaper to help someone remain housed, than to support them after they’ve become homeless,” he said.
“Everybody needs to be involved, because homelessness is a community issue.
“It’s not something Uniting WA can solve, nor solely the homelessness sector, nor government.
“It affects all of us, and all of us should be concerned.”
His advice when volunteering is “we need to give people a hand up, not a handout”.
“Each day you volunteer, you gain a deeper understanding of humanity – and how goodwill and compassion can positively impact others.”
Information for signing up is on the Uniting WA website.
In any given week Uniting WA has about 80 volunteers in its commercial kitchen but are always looking for more.
“Some people volunteer before work; we have retirees who volunteer multiple days a week,” Mr Chester said.
Some of the volunteering responsibilities include cooking, food prep, washing dishes, organising inventory, and storing donations.
Tranby Hub relies heavily on food donations, with Second Bite and Oz Harvest the main contributors.
While donations of goods such as non-perishable food items and toiletries are always welcome, during winter the focus switches to sleeping bags, blankets, beanies, and socks; anything that helps keep someone sleeping rough warm.
Last year Uniting WA distributed around 20,000 pairs of socks.
“When you’re exposed to the elements, socks are essentially single use items,” Mr Chester said.
“Clean socks are critical for health and comfort.”
Mr Chester urges people to “reflect” on their circumstances.
“Think about your situation, and about your family or friends, who at any moment could find themselves facing homelessness due to a difficult life event.
“Then ask yourself: How could I help them?”
Signing up for campaigns is another way Mr Chester suggests to show support, such as the 20,000-strong Raise the Rate campaign which is asking for higher Jobseeker payments to ensure recipients are able to meet their basic needs.
Make Renting Fair aims to ease the housing crisis by lobbying governments to improve tenants rights.
Uniting WA can be found at: https://unitingwa.org.au
by GUY TEISSIER