Connections Week is coming!

We welcome you into the new year with some exciting news!

Just Home is proud to partner with the Augusta Margaret River Shire to launch Connections Week!

This is a big bold project and brings with it the potential for real systems change in the homelessness space, and the whole community is invited to get on board.

Please come along to the community info session on Thursday 22nd January 6pm – 7pm in the Shire of Augusta Margaret River Council Chambers.

To find out more…

Facebook event here, invite your friends!

Register to attend here (free)!

Can’t make the info session but still want to help? Make the pledge here!

What is Connections Week?

A week of canvassing the Augusta Margaret River (AMR) Region to engage people with current living experience of homelessness in a survey, to gather detailed and person-specific knowledge of their housing, health and support needs.

During the week there will also be an in person drop in clinic providing opportunities to connect people experiencing homelessness with relevant services, emergency relief, pop up cafes and help clinics.

We use an evidenced based and nationally recognised data collection methodology developed by the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness: The Australian Homelessness Vulnerability Triage Tool (AHVTT ).

This is not just another data collection exercise, this is a whole community approach where we strengthen collaboration, increase consciousness and understanding, shift perspectives and reduce stigma around homelessness. The work begins once we have the data and we use it to inform targeted local action, advocacy and systems change.

Why do we need a Connections Week?

There is an inaccurate public perception of Margaret River as the “Chardonnay Coast: the playground of the wealthy”.

More than once, we have been told by State Government Departments that there is “no demand” for public housing or social services in AMR.

Just Home is a not for profit who has been advocating for housing justice in the region for 10 years. Up until July last year, Just Home operated the only housing and homelessness frontline service in AMR. We know that this perception is inaccurate, unhelpful and undermining efforts to social change.

To move forward with collective advocacy to address the issue of homelessness and housing stress in AMR, there is an urgent need for up to date, quality data. When both demand and supply can be quantified, the gap can be determined to assist in advocacy.

It has been implemented in many other Local Governments in WA such as Bunbury, Albany and Mandurah and is proven to be useful in determining the demand for housing and support and influencing the will of the State Government to invest in housing and homelessness services.

Who is involved?

The campaign, resulting report, data and the follow-up strategic working group are community driven and community owned. CW will bring together the whole community, from individuals to organisations, services, schools, faith based groups and businesses in a high level of collaborative effort

The project is led by Just Home Margaret River, The AMR Shire is partnering in the project and providing 100% of the funds.

We’re calling on the community to join us by offering volunteer time, in kind donations and other resources to help spread awareness and make sure everyone experiencing homelessness is counted.

You may be experiencing homelessness if; you don’t have a permanent place to live, your dwelling is inadequate, you have no tenure, it’s overcrowded, or you are living in unconventional ways.