b'01Of the 300 young people our Great Lakes andGLAMYHSManning Youth Homelessness Service (GLAMYHS) supported last year, around 70% accessed our services through our outreach program. Its a critical, proactive program that ensures those NSW Mid-North Coast youth who are at risk of 02 homelessness always have a roof over their heads02and a safe place to call home. 02COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMUNITY SERVICESOur outreach clients have complex backgrounds and barriers to securing long-term housing, including mental health issues, domestic violence, underemployment, and a lack of rental history. Many are in temporary accommodation and need support to secure permanent housing. Some are self-referrals, while others come from community members, schools, domestic violence officers and other local services. Shaniane Andrews, our Specialised Homeless Service (SHS) Intake Officer, completes a comprehensive intake and risk assessment for each case and allocates them to ourHomebase 03outreach case workers. Shaniane says, Once we allocate a case worker, they travel to the young person at risk for an initial meeting, which might be in a public space, their school, or current homewherever they feel safe. Many cant reach us via public transport, so this outreach is the only way they can access the support they need. The outreach team have over 44 years of combined experience in the sector and a shared passion for supporting young people through homelessness. SHS Manager Phil Pilgrim says, Its a challenging role, and the young people can be hard to engage, but the team do an incredible job. The outreach opens the door to our other services, often allowing us to support these young people before theyreHomebases mission is to support young peopleBefore, he hadnt been very social due to a medical04experiencing homelessness.in the NSW Mid-North Coast who are facingcondition, but hes excited to go to playgroup every week The case workers then formulate a plan to address barriers,challenges, to improve their lives and give themand has learnt so many new things, including arts, crafts referring clients to external services as needed andthe best chance to succeed later in life. and swimming. Ive loved seeing him grow and make arranging short-term, medium-term and long-term housingfriends in a safe environment.options. Our youth refuge can support clients under 18 for upOur youth workers are a passionate group of people,As an early childhood educator, Sarah builds the to 3 months if they require immediate crisis housing, whileadvocating for and supporting local youth through one- playgroup curriculum based on critical child development our transitional housing is a medium-term, semi-supportedon-one case management and targeted programs basedtopics like nutrition, school readiness, social skills, and option for 1624-year-olds, including single parents andon their needslike our Surfing and Water Awarenessliteracy. She says, We collaborate with the families about young families with children. Program, Driver Licensing Access Program (DLAP) andtheir goals and interests and pick a core activity each our Supported Playgroup. term, like swimming lessons, which is always a hit. Phil says, We have 17 transitional properties across Taree,While all our programs aim to engage young people and Tuncurry and Forster. People stay in these properties untilBeyond this, the playgroup is also a chance to engage they secure a long-term optionnormally around ninetheir families in an accessible setting, our Supportedparents and carers, encouraging their participation in our05months, but with the current housing crisis, its taking longerThese young peoplePlaygroup is unique. It serves a younger age group,other services and programs. Sarah says, A lot of these on average. catering to children in their earliest developmental years,families might not access support for themselves and While clients are in transitional housing, our case workershave their wholeaged 0-5.their children otherwise; the playgroup is the first easy Sarah Little, Homebase Case Manager and Supportedstep. Its fun and welcoming, we can provide transport, empower and support them to cook, budget and cleanlives ahead of them,Playgroup Coordinator says, The playgroup runs twice aand we put on a nice morning tea with food provided byall the skills they need to maintain a home once theyweek during the school term, and its a great program forWoolworths Tuncurry. We remove as many barriers as successfully enter permanent private or social housing. and we can help tolocal kids and families. It means we can make a positivepossible. Some of our clients simply need time to find employment,impact early in their lives and reduce difficulties and or finish studying, or even just to turn 18. We can giveproduce real, lastingbarriers they might face down the track. The biggest highlight is seeing the children and them that here at GLAMYHS, says Shaniane, Many ofadults making friendships that carry on outside them have experienced significant trauma, but we workchange. She adds, Its often the only chance these kids get toof playgroup; theyre building a community with them to build hope. These young people have theirinteract in a structured setting, and its so important theysupport network here, and its amazing that we whole lives ahead of them, and we can help to produceSHANIANE ANDREWS have that experience before they start school.Local mumcan facilitate that. This will set the kids up for06real, lasting change. SPECIALIST HOMELESSNESS SERVICE Nikki* has been attending the Supported Playgroup withthe rest of their lives.her two-and-a-half-year-old son, Max*, for the past year.She says, Playgroup has been vital for Maxs development.SARAH LITTLEHOMEBASE CASE MANAGER*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of thePAGE 23individuals involved'