The Shoalhaven Homeless Hub is in danger of becoming homeless itself, with the lease on its Nowra operation coming to an end in January next year.
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The Hub, which has operated out of rented premises in Junction Street, Nowra for the more than 20 years, is in desperate need of a new home to continue the much-needed work for what manager Lesley Labka says is an "ever growing list of clients".
"It's pretty ironic isn't it, the Homeless Hub could become homeless itself," said Ms Labka who is the manager of Shoalhaven Services SASSI (Supported Accommodation and Homlessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra).
"The search is now on for suitable premises somewhere within the Nowra area so we can continue this vital service."
The Hub is seeing around 50 new clients a month and up to 70 clients a day.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward, the former Minister for Homelessness, has moved a notice of motion in parliament calling on the NSW Government to provide the extra funding to help keep the doors of the Homeless Hub open.
It's pretty ironic isn't it, the Homeless Hub could become homeless itself.
- Lesley Labka
"The rising cost of regional housing isn't just impacting on those looking for a home - it's now even impacting services who are dedicated to supporting homeless people in our region," Mr Ward said.
The organisation was informed earlier this week its lease on the current premises would not be renewed and they would have to vacate the location on Australia Day (January 26) next year.
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"Look, we can't fault the owner, they have been very generous to us over a long time offering below market rent," Lesley said.
"This unfortunately is how the market works - we see it happening all the time - we just didn't think it would happen to us as well."
The COVID-19 pandemic has also pushed house and rental prices in the Shoalhaven up.
"It leaves us in a very vulnerable position - we are unable to guarantee our future," Ms Labka said.
"Our existing funding is insufficient to be able to cover current commercial rent in town.
"So we are facing the same problems as so many of our homeless clients have, we can't find affordable housing in the Shoalhaven."
Ms Labka said since receiving the "heartbreaking news" the organisation has reached out to a number of local real estates, Shoalhaven City Council and other local organisations who might be able to help them find suitable, affordable accommodation.
"It's certainly not easy - we know that," she said.
"Ideally, we need to be somewhere in the centre of Nowra, located close to the many other services our clients also use.
"Lots of our clients don't have cars, or if they do, don't have a lot of money for petrol - we need to be in walking distances of places like Centrelink, Southern Cross Housing and the other services we refer to."
Our little Hub is punching above its weight. In the last financial year the Hub helped 536 clients, a 128 per cent increase over its funded target. We can see close to 50 new clients a month.
- Lesley Labka
Ms Labka said the demand on the Homeless Hub is greater than ever.
"Last month we saw 47 new clients and that seems to be a consistent number each month at the hub, but they are only new clients - we also have a list of ongoing clients we are helping."
In the last financial year the Hub helped 536 clients, a 128 per cent increase over its funded target.
"Our little Hub is punching above its weight," she said.
"We have two full time case managers but can only operate four days a week.
"The need is greater at the moment and there is a marked increase in demand for services.
"We are experiencing people who have never been homeless before but are now finding themselves homeless. Many of them have no tenancy issues, not like some of our usual clientele.
"Increasingly we are seeing a number of elderly men and women simply being priced out of the market...like we are."
As well as trying to find people homes, the Hub also provides laundry facilities, a place clients can have a shower, provides meals, including hot meals, and a place to have a cuppa.
"Our qualified case managers look for and help them apply for property, help them navigate the local housing services with things like temporary accommodation with groups like Southern Cross Housing," she said.
"We deal with people in crisis - sometimes people turn up at the Hub suddenly after finding themselves homeless, their leases terminated and are often frightened and terrified.
"Sometimes they need to get out and have nowhere to go or to put their stuff in storage or nowhere for their pets. They might not have family or friends for assistance.
We know of at least 10-15 people in the Nowra area alone at the moment who are living rough in cars or tents.
- Lesley Labka
"We also provide emergency food for people experiencing rental stress. We even provide emergency clothing and in the real pointing end, tents and sleeping bags."
She said they know at least 10-15 people in the Nowra area alone at the moment who are "living rough" in cars or tents.
"We know there is also a hidden group just living in national parks up and down the coast. Many others are couch surfing and have no permanent address," she said.
Ms Labka said the Hub would like to hear from anyone who might have any suggestions or ideas to help them out of their current predicament.
Mr Ward said "the government's own data shows that the Shoalhaven is seeing some of the fastest growth rates of homelessness in the state with the number of rough sleepers doubling in one year."
"Local homelessness supports are already overrun; we cannot see service delivery go backward. This service is far too valuable to be lost to our local community.
"I'm calling on the government to provide the additional funding required to relocate to a new property in the Nowra area. For government, the amount of additional funding is mere pocket-change but for the Shoalhaven Homeless Hub, this increase in cost is a gap that will break the service."
Mr Ward has also written to the NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services.
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