The state government’s Service Support Fund (SSF) was established to help specialist homelessness service providers that were unsuccessful in the Going Home Staying Home tender to deliver additional and complementary services. 

The government announced an extension of the SSF from February 1, 2016 until June 30, 2017, allowing homelessness providers such as Shoalhaven Youth Accommodation and Shoalhaven Women’s Resource Group to continue to deliver services to those who most need it.

Kerri Snowden from SYA, which runs the Shoalhaven Homeless Hub, welcomed the news.

“We are delighted, as it will enable us to support and assist a lot more people,” she said.

Ms Snowden had been campaigning for extra funding to continue the service which had been inundated with clients since it was launched in November last year.

“We have helped hundreds of clients and given out more than 200 toiletry packs,” she said.

“We were really concerned what would happen to our clients when funding for the service ran out.

“Where were they going to get that basic service and assistance we offer?

“We will now be able operate up to that extended date.”

The hub has continued its public appeal for assistance, with Ms Snowden saying the organisation was in great need of food donations and second hand lounges to be given to clients.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward said the funding boost represented more than $691,000 per year extra for local homelessness services.  

“This funding will mean even more help for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness,” he said.

Funding beyond June 30, 2017 will be subject to service planning on the basis of client and district need, while the extension of SSF funding is dependent on organisations demonstrating satisfactory performance in their annual performance review.