Catholic agency secures funding for work with homeless

Catholic Social Services will receive Ministry of Social Development (MSD) funding for a rough sleeper navigation support service, following a seven-month pilot that began in November.

General manager Melanie McNatty said the funding was recognition of the pilot’s valuable work in Dunedin.

“It just gives us the opportunity to be able to grow the service and work more collaboratively with other agencies in the city that we currently work with, and be able to provide a better service,” Ms McNatty said.

“We’re really excited that the Government is saying that is something that is worth resourcing.”

Social worker Paul Barham, whose role was being funded by MSD, said the pilot sought to remove barriers preventing people from getting into housing and had built on strong relationships with clients, other social organisations such as the Night Shelter and government agencies.

He was anticipating a “silver tsunami” as older people increasingly found themselves in need of support.

During the pilot, Catholic Social Services had worked with 51 “household units”, including 18 children. Housing had been found for about 17 units; the agency was also contracted to provide support after the fact, Ms McNatty said.

“We are advocates in a whole lot of spaces. But we are able to think outside the box and look at what a solution might be. Because it’s not just about putting people in a house,” she said.

The news comes as the Dunedin City Council continues recruitment for its in-house homeless outreach service.

Ms McNatty said she hoped the council’s service would establish good partnerships with existing agencies. But she expressed concern that the “council is deciding to get into what would be the role of social services”.

“There’s a skill level that’s required. It’s not just about building a relationship with the person and putting them into a house. It’s understanding their needs, what’s out there in the city,” she said.

FULL STORY

Social agency thrilled to secure government funding (By Ruby Shaw/Otago Daily Times)