In Victoria...

Community Connections Program
The Community Connections Program aims to improve the health and well being of people living in low cost or unstable accommodation in the Hume and Moreland Region. The program utilises assertive outreach and operates on a short-term case management model to address the client's needs.

Low-cost accommodation includes:
• Public housing
• Private boarding houses and hotels
• Community rooming house groups
• Supported residential services
• Caravan parks

Client needs may include:
• Intellectual and/or physical disability
• Psychiatric or mental illness
• Frailty
• Drug or alcohol dependence
• Family and/or relationship difficulties
• Financial problems (including Centrelink issues)
• Legal issues, etc

The program seeks to address a person's isolation from the community through linking them to mainstream and/or specialist services that they may otherwise be unable to access without assistance.

The Community Conntections Program aims to enhance a person's capacity to respond to future problems or crises they may face.

What sort of assistance can CCP provide?

• We can provide outreach support to a client and short-term case-management when required.
• We can assist the client to identify and work towards achieving personal goals.
• We can assist the client to find out about and use a range of other services including: health services, mental health services, drug and alcohol services, education, employment and recreational services.
• We can identify appropriate referral options for clients and, where necessary, provide advocacy to maximise their access to mainstream and specialist services.

The program has access to Flexible Care Funds which enables:
- to link a client into mainstream or specialist services;
- to provide assistance to overcome a critical episode or pressing need; and
- to engage a particular client or client group with a service.

Marian Community
Marian Community is a special work of St Vincent de Paul Society in conjunction with both State and Federal Governments under the Supported Accomodation Assistance Program (SAAP). It was first established in 1980, by conference members of the St Vincent de Paul Society as a women's refuge.

Marian Community is now part of VincentCare Victoria and receives funding under both State and Federal Government through the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program.

Marian Community provides a range of client focussed services in a safe and caring environment, upholding the rights of women and children to determine their own future and live free of violence.

Marian Community offers women and children a range of accommodation and support services with a focus on providing them with real opportunities to make a path out of violent relationships.

In 1995 Marian Community developed an innovative model of service delivery for women and children requiring high security accommodation and support. The model transforms 'refuge' and 'outreach' into a domestic violence service continuum. Referrals are received at the office site and assisted to determine the most appropriate response for that particular case.

The key to Marian Community's success is that they aim to provide a truly flexible service which allows for lateral thinking and creative solutions and better outcomes for women.

Client support is provided according to the assessment of their needs, which is flexible and includes both financial and 'practical' support.

Individual properties replace the communal style refuge providing optimum flexibility, privacy and security. Workers visit the clients 'at home' in their allocated property.

Ozanam House
Ozanam House provides short-term crisis accommodation for men who are homeless and over the age of 18 years. The facility has 63 beds; 60 are available for crisis accommodation, the other three are contracted to St Vincent's Hospital to provide accommodation for homeless people exiting the hospital's emergency department.

We aim to provide a safe, secure and supportive environment to enable clients to address the issues that have brought them here, and then support them in moving forward.

A range of programs and services are delivered, with a focus on creating opportunities for change.

Ozanam House aims to meet the individual needs of each client. Residents pay $14 per day for their accommodation and meals.

Services
• 24 hour supported accommodation
• Information and referral regarding housing options
• Material and financial assistance
• Access to on site health services
• Access to on site legal services
• Recreation and Group Activities
• Information and referral to specialist services including; drug & alcohol services, employment & training options and mental health services

Making a referral
Clients can refer themselves directly, or someone can contact us on their behalf. When making a referral, we need the following information:
• Clients name
• An indication of the clients needs
• An approximate time of arrival
• Income status
• Brief history

When the referral has been accepted a staff member will explain the Conditions of Stay, which you will be required to comply with.

• Other 24-hour emergency services
• Flagstaff Crisis Accommodation 9329 2411
• Hanover Southbank 9699 4566
• Lifeline 13 11 14
• St Kilda Crisis Centre 9525 4100

Quin House
Quin House provides accommodation and support for ten men exiting drug and alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation programs. Clients are asked to pay $125 per week, which includes accommodation and living expenses.

The program offers:
• Groups focusing on enhancing interpersonal skills, education, relapse prevention and developing strategies and skills for approaching problem situations
• Development of goal-oriented case plans, and support to implement your plans
• Assistance to access resources within the community

To minimise harm related to alcohol and other drug use by providing a residential post-withdrawal program for men.

This supported service will be provided over a three- to six-month period. The nature and level of support will differ according to individual need.

The service is committed to enabling men to take maximum control over decisions that affect their well-being.

The workers understand that once clients have made the decision to address their drug and alcohol misuse, they will need practical and emotional support.

Selection criteria
• Clients must be homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Clients must be drug/alcohol free for a minimum of five (5) days.
• Clients must be capable of independent living.
• Clients should be able to demonstrate a commitment to living in a drug/alcohol free environment and accept the conditions of Quin House.
• Clients should be willing to participate in programs that require co-operation and interaction with the other residents and staff.

Referrals
Referrals can be made directly to Quin House. The initial telephone assessment will gather information based on the program?s Selection Criteria. Having met the Criteria, and if a vacancy exists, a formal assessment time will be arranged.

Transitional Housing Management
Transitional Housing Management is an expression of the ethos of the St Vincent de Paul Society. In partnership with the community, government and other agencies it provides a range of services responsive to the needs of people who are homeless or are in housing crisis.

Transitional Housing Manangement manages around 150 public housing properties on behalf of the Office of Housing (including rent collection and general maintenance), as well as providing a Housing Information and Referral services for people seeking affordable housing.

As part of the St Vincent de Paul Society's comprehensive, integrated and person to person response to community need in Victoria our vision is:
• To be the leading provider of community housing services.
• To be a key partner in an established network of social service providers.
• To be a credible and reflective advocate on behalf of clients.
• To be a dynamic influence in the improvement and refinement of systems of community housing service provision.

Values
• We believe in the dignity and worth of all people and act with compassion and integrity at all times.
• We value a safe environment for both staff and service users.
• We promote transparency, accountability, and consultation in all our activities.
• We reward the initiative and commitment of staff and encourage their professional development.
• We uphold service user rights and encourage responsibility and participation in making the most of their opportunities.
• We value community diversity and act in a non-discriminatory way at all times.
• We respect the confidentiality of service users.
• We work for an equitable and just society.

Transitional Housing is one of 15 Transitional Housing Managers in Victoria. This service provides services to homeless young people, adults, singles and families, including Kooris and clients from non-English speaking backgrounds and with disabilities. The service is non-discriminatory with respect to sexuality, gender, race or religion.

Also managed within the Transitional Housing Manangement office is a Juvenile Justice program which manages six properties and targets young people aged 17 or over who are leaving Juvenile Justice custody and are in need of accommodation.

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