Meet Editha, a case worker from Fairfax House.
Editha is passionate about helping children and families find a safe home. We asked Editha to tell us about her role and how she supports vulnerable children and their families.
Q: How do you support children and families experiencing homelessness?
My aim is to help families that need long-term and affordable housing. All families are connected to a case manager. Together, we develop ‘case plans’ to help them on their journey to finding permanent housing. It includes things like how manage finances, maintain a clean property and how transition into the larger community. We also help families by connecting them to the most relevant services.
Q: Have you noticed the impact of homelessness on children?
Families who don’t have a permanent home frequently have to move on to somewhere else. It’s rare for families experiencing homelessness to stay in one place. The instability has an impact on children. When families are moving from place to place, it is difficult to maintain healthy routines. Although children are resilient, having a safe and stable home means they can settle into school and have a healthy routine.
Q: What is the impact of homelessness on parents?
One common fear that parents have is losing their children because of homelessness. This is a common fear I see. Their children could have been happy before experiencing homelessness, but when the family is constantly relocating, their children often act out and rebel.
Fairfax House is one of many Mission Australia services funded by the generosity of our supporters, offering temporary accommodation to families in need.
Your donation helps provide families with:
- Crisis accommodation
- Counselling and psychological support
- Case management to transition to a safe home
- Skills and training for employment
- Budget and debt reduction support
Learn more about Fairfax House
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