The Heartbeat
Each August, Homelessness Week brings the issue of homelessness onto the agendas of local, state, and national governments. As we reflect on what we have achieved together to support people experiencing homelessness, it’s also important to focus on how much work there is left to be done.
In this edition of our Heartbeat newsletter you will hear directly from clients on what our services have meant to them and how we are supporting vulnerable Australians into permanent housing through a new program. We also share how you can take action in support of our community.
Together, we will continue to raise our voices and advocate for change, every day of the year.
Cathy Humphrey
CEO Sacred Heart Mission
Introducing GreenLight Plus
We are proud to announce our new GreenLight Plus program, a groundbreaking Victorian Government-funded Homeless to Home (H2H) initiative led by Sacred Heart Mission.
Sacred Heart Mission has teamed up with Housing Choices Australia and The Salvation Army to provide stable housing, as well as a brighter and more stable future for 146 people who experienced homelessness in Melbourne before the COVID-19 pandemic.
From April 2020, 1,845 Victorians experiencing homelessness were temporarily relocated to hotels and short stay emergency accommodation across Melbourne due to Covid-19. Now the State Government’s innovative H2H program is providing these clients with access to housing and support packages, delivered through unique partnerships between housing and support service agencies – like GreenLight Plus.
To date, nearly half of clients have been successfully allocated housing through GreenLight Plus. One of those clients is Pat*, who settled into his permanent public housing property in May. He says, “GreenLight has helped me heaps. Outreach has been good because it can be a lonely experience otherwise.” Learn more about GreenLight Plus and Pat’s story.