VincentCare’s Ozanam House is about to undergo a major facelift that will see its crisis accommodation services expand to support more homeless people.
Onsite at Ozanam House today, Minister for Housing Martin Foley said an Andrews Labor Government contribution of $10 million will enable VincentCare to increase its bed numbers and provide more comprehensive accommodation options.
The remodelling of Ozanam House will also incorporate Vincent Care’s Ozanam Community Centre on the one site in North Melbourne, catering for a wider client base.
VincentCare currently provides meals, showers and laundry services, coupled with recreational and educational activities at the Ozanam Community Centre program, which 150 men and women attend daily.
The services provided through Ozanam House include crisis accommodation and case management for 59 men aged 25 and over.
The vast majority of clients accessing the organisation’s services are homeless and a high proportion of those are rough sleepers.
The additional funding will also see the construction of independent living units for men and women over the age of 50, and an increase in the number of transitional and crisis accommodation currently being offered.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing Martin Foley
“The new Ozanam House and Community Centre will help more people in times of crisis, and provide longer-term accommodation for older members of our community.”
“VincentCare makes provides invaluable support services to homeless people, but we all have a role to play to ensure that support is effective in stopping the cycle of homelessness.”
“This investment will mean that the service will provide support to women as well as men, in a way that permanently solves their homelessness, rather than simply sending them out again through a revolving door.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020