SAINT BENEDICTS LOGO NOV 2018                                ACNCChristos

Saint Benedicts Homestart Community

Overview
As a growing level of homelessness occurs in our community, St Benedict's endeavours to proactively help those experiencing homelessness with tangible and meaningful assistance.

A sad reality is that some amongst us are either sleeping in vehicles, tents in the bush or sleeping bags at various locations. Nothing is more important than a roof over your head and a bed for sleep, yet for some this is but a dream.

For those without homes sleeping in public areas and the need to use public facilities creates issues for local Authorities and in most cases results in Rangers forcing the homeless to move on to another location. This does not address the issue it simply moves the problem to someone else’s backyard.

homestart image st b2

Solution
St Benedict’s model is simple and straight forward. Develop a homeless shelter community with accommodation, ablution and laundry facilities, community resources centre and social enterprises as a cornerstone platform for returning to mainstream society. It will operate with a focus on collaborating with other community services creating opportunities for positive outcomes together with vocational training.  

Funding for development and operations of the Community would be carried out by the Foundation being self sufficient and non-reliant on any Government or Local Authority funding.
 
 
SAINT BENEDICTS WAY FORWARD MODEL REVISED NOV 2018
 
 
The greatest epidemic today is not TB or leprosy, it is being unwanted, unloved and uncared for
Mother Teresa
 

 

  • Saint Benedicts Centre - Peel (January 2021)homestart
  • Shelter for those without a home – 48 beds
  • Safe, secure accommodation, community centre & clinic
  • 24/7 management & accommodation hotline
  • Platform to re-establish independent living
  • Ongoing guidance and mentoring
  • Christian Principles

 

 

 

 

 

Proposed Homeless Women’s Centre Overview

The design and construction of the Centre will take into consideration the overall objectives of the Foundation and awareness of the Western Australian Government’s recently released 10 Year Strategy on Homelessness “All Paths Lead to a Home”.

  • The Foundation’s strategy to deliver shelter and services to homeless women includes providing:
  • Safe, secure medium term accommodation (Homestart Program)
  • Case management and counselling (Helpstart Program)
  • Employment mentoring and job locating (Workstart Program)
  • Platform from which to re-establish independent living
  • Ongoing mentoring

The design of the Centre will reflect an Australian Federation architectural style and anticipates the living units will comprise three single story wings around a central landscape garden area (The Garden of Tranquillity), with the fourth wing comprising Administration and Facilities.

Picture 1

The Centre will comprise:

  • Private self-contained living units to accommodate up to 48 women (some with children) and 2 fulltime live in staff
  • Each wing (including the Administration) plus verandas would be approximately 800 square metres in area
  • An Administration and Facilities Block to enable staff, qualified internal and external counsellors and volunteers to deliver services together with common user areas for the Centre’s lodgers.
  • Staff of Centre Manager, Assistant, 2 Clerical, 2 fulltime Counsellors, Cleaner, Concierge, Handyperson and 14 Volunteers (being 2 per day)
  • A central Hub for external speciality service providers to meet directly with lodgers
  • A central landscaped garden for peace and reflection
  • Roof mounted solar panels for power generation
  • BioMax C80 commercial wastewater treatment sysyem

Each Living Unit will comprise:

  • Approximately 30 square metres in area with veranda of 12 square metres
  • Kitchenette with electrical appliances such as microwave with hotplates, toaster, kettle, an area for basic food preparation and washing up
  • Separate shower and toilet
  • Sleeping area
  • Lounge area
  • Fire suppression water system
  • Four double sized units to accommodate a mother and up to three children
  • Two units to accommodate those who have Universal Access Requirements.

Administration and Facilities block will comprise:

  • Administration area with provision for a separate office for the Centre Manager, an open working area (separate from the facilities for lodgers) for up to 3 clerical staff including provision for up to 6 computers
  • Toilets for staff, counsellors, volunteers and visitors
  • Area for staff and volunteers to hold meetings and meet visitors
  • Reception area with desk and seating for visitors
  • 4 separate offices for Counsellors to ensure privacy for counselling with lodgers
  • A Chapel and quiet area
  • Central kitchen to provide dinners for lodgers who do not wish to cook in their units or eat alone. Seating for up to 30 women, tables, washing up area, stoves, fridges and dry goods storage area
  • Lounge area with television and comfortable seating
  • Library/reading room with WIFI and provision for computers
  • Hobbies area (sewing, knitting, crochet and the like) with comfortable chairs and tables
  • Cleaning store room
  • Basic workshop for handyperson
  • Laundry with 6 commercial washing machines and 2 commercial dryers
  • Area where dry non-perishable donations may be sorted and stored
  • Carparking area for up to 24 vehicles
  • The building will meet Universal Access Requirements – access to building and ablutions

Commitment Agreement

  • When engaging with Saint Benedicts Homeless Women’s Shelter Home a Mutual Agreement Understanding between both parties is required in order to ensure successful transition to independent living.

   Saint Benedicts Expectations:

  • Treat others with dignity, respecting their preferences and privacy
  • Accept responsibility for your actions and not engage in anti-social behaviour
  • Engage in opportunities that support transition to independent community living
  • Commit to an agreed plan and goals and work towards achieving these
  • Demonstrate commitment to achieving your goals

   Participants Expectations:

  • Be treated with dignity and accepted as an individual, receiving respectful support
  • Be friendly, approachable and have clear communication that meets individual needs
  • Create opportunities to support transition to independent living
  • Create an agreed specific plan with goals and work towards achieving these
  • Be committed to goals set
  • Provide safety and stability
  • Continue to encourage and motivate to aspire and achieve goals

Safe Secure Accommodation