Welcome to the Nepean Campaign Against Homelessness website.
We represent organisations in the Nepean/Blacktown region of western Sydney working together to end homelessness.
Our aim is to bring together government, business, and the community as part of a new approach that solves, rather than manages, homelessness.
Humane. Because having a
home is a basic human right. Respectful. Because we respect rather than
pathologise homeless people. Compassionate. Because we can not allow the homeless
to continue to be seen as invisible.
History
The Nepean Campaign Against Homelessness (NCAH) was founded in 2007 during the Australian Federal election campaign with the aim of getting homelessness and affordable housing in western Sydney onto the political agenda. The NCAH was an initiative of the homelessness networks in
the region - YAIN (Youth Accommodation Interagency Nepean) and the Adult
Homelessness Network Nepean .
The Rudd government delivered on their promise to make homelessness a priority and the Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek, was keynote speaker at the forum Towards Ending Homelessness in the Nepean at the Joan Sutherland theatre, Penrith, in September 2008 organised by NCAH.
It was agreed at that forum to establish a Regional Task Force bringing together all stakeholders including the 4 local Councils, key government agencies, business, homelessness networks, NGO's and the community sector.The then Federal Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek launched the Regional Taskforce at Penrith City Council in September 2009.
The
Nepean/ Blacktown Regional Taskforce is chaired by Felicity Reynolds, CEO of
the Mercy Foundation. Click on this link for minutes and documents of the Taskforce.
During 2009/2010 NCAH facilitated a consortium of over 40 agencies to partner with Wentworth Community Housing to establish a regional Supportive housing service called Project 40. Project 40 aims to provide permanent housing with support to those who experience chronic homelessness and are higly vulnerable within the region.Click on the following link to find out more about Project 40.
Current Projects
The Regional Taskforce has commenced consultations within each Local Government area to develop a Ten year Plan to end homelessness in the Nepean/Blacktown region. The first consultation was held in the Blue Mountains in November 2010. Consultations will occur in each of the three remaining local government areas early in 2011.
The Taskforce has also supported the first Nepean/ Blacktown Street Count in May 2010 and also the Hawkesbury (Homelessness) Outreach Hub. Hubs were held in August and November 2010 and at this stage it is planned to hold Hubs every three months in 2011 and to commence Hubs in the other local government areas in 2011. These Hubs are based on the model used by City of Sydney in Woolloomooloo.
A Consumer Advocates group has been established and funding secured to facilitate training and equipping the consumer advocates to develop media, public speaking skills and advocacy skills.
Project 40 Coordination Groups have been established in each of the 4 LGA's and two Project Coordinators commenced in December 2010.
Wentworth Community Housing has been funded by Housing NSW for three years to undertake a regional Service System Reform project concurrent to the Project 40 Supportive Housing Service rolling out.
Humane. Because having a home is a basic human right. Respectful. Because we respect rather than pathologise homeless people. Compassionate. Because we can not allow the homeless to continue to be seen as invisible.
Agencies in the Consortium
The
Nepean homelessness consortium represents the organisations across our
region who work with people experiencing, or at risk of homelessness.
They represent a range of different funding streams. The agencies are:
Wentworth Community Housing
Youth Accommodation Interagency Nepean(YAIN)
The Salvation Army Recovery Centre, Leura
Barnardos Penrith Centre
Penrith City Council
Nepean Network Office- Community Services
San Miguel
Mackillop Family Services
Blue Gum Inc.
Nepean Youth Homelessness Service(NYHS)
Nepean Youth Accommodation Services(NYAS)
Nurreen- Hawkesbury Women's Accommodation and Support Service
Penrith Women's Refuge
Salvation Army Hawkesbury
The Turning Point Youth Accommodation Services
Aftercare- PHaMS, HASI and HASI for Kooris
Dept of Corrective Services
The Richmond Fellowship
Fusion Accommodation and Support Services
Blue Mountains Youth Accommodation and Support Service(BMYASS)