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Mission Australia's Michael Project for the homeless launched today |
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| 18 Aug 2008 |
 A groundbreaking new homeless initiative – Mission Australia’s Michael Project – was launched in Sydney today with the prospect it will change the face of homeless services across Australia in the years ahead.The starting point for the Michael Project is the recognition that, broadly speaking, the current approach in Australia for helping people out of homelessness isn’t working... Getting out of homelessness – and staying out – is about more than just having a roof over your head. It’s also about being able to participate in your community – having the capacity to find and keep a job, to cook and clean for yourself and to look after your health. To do that successfully, homeless people need help across a range of areas – health, educational and social services – in addition to finding a safe and sustainable place to stay. However, in the current landscape, when these services are available they often have long waiting lists and are poorly co-ordinated. A homeless person might find themselves trying to navigate a confusing and intimidating range of independent support providers…a major challenge for any person, let alone someone who is homeless and who might be struggling with other problems, including mental illness. As a result, homeless people often cycle through shelters and accommodation, never getting the full help they need and becoming further entrenched in their situation. To overcome this problem, the Michael Project will fund a range of additional and integrated services over three years to work in co-ordination with seven of Mission Australia’s existing programs for homeless men in Sydney. It is funding a nurse (working in collaboration with St Vincent’s Hospital) who visits rough sleepers and ministers to their physical and mental health needs at a stage before they front hospital emergency departments; it is also employing the services of a psychologist, an occupational therapist, a drug and alcohol counsellor, an Indigenous outreach worker, along with dentists, barbers, podiatrists and hairdressers. Other supports include literacy, numeracy and computer training. The Michael Project is also closely linked to the Milk Crate Theatre – Australia’s only theatre company solely dedicated to people from homeless and disadvantaged backgrounds. Michael Project clients are involved in the theatre as performers and in other activities. Another unique aspect of the Michael Project is that it will be underpinned by a comprehensive research program in partnership with Murdoch University and the University of NSW for its duration. The research will examine Michael Project outcomes across housing/homelessness, mental health and drug/alcohol use in addition to providing a cost-benefit analysis. There is a lack of hard evidence, particularly in Australia, about ‘what works’ to help people out of homelessness. We’re confident that the Michael Project will provide clear information to governments and policy-makers about how extra health, education and social supports can deliver better outcomes to homeless people – cost-efficiently. It’s with that evidence that we hope to shape future homeless services in Australia. Mission Australia is extremely excited about the possibilities of the Michael Project. We’re also grateful to the individual who stepped forward and provided the funding to roll-out the initiative – Mission Australia’s largest ever personal gift. It will have a positive impact on hundreds of homeless people and our community over the years ahead.
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