Addressing health issues that may impact maintaning a home

Addressing health and mental health issues that may impact maintaining or securing a home

The Toward Home Alliance comprises of Baptist Care SA, Mission Australia, The Salvation Army, Sonder and Lead Agency, Lutheran Care alongside government partner, SA Housing Authority. The Alliance members work together to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the Adelaide CBD, Inner and outer Southern metro and Adelaide Hills.

Toward Home delivers specialised services through 6 programs – Access, Prevent, Divert, Resolve, Wardli-ana and Wellbeing. Toward Home’s Wellbeing team is led by Alliance partner, Sonder. Sonder’s team of health professionals provide assistance to clients to address any health and/or mental health challenges which may be a barrier to them securing and maintaining a safe and sustainable home. The team includes Peer Workers with lived experience of homelessness and/or mental health challenges.

This is a story of George*, a client Sonder’s Toward Home team have worked with recently.

George* was first referred to Toward Home’s Wellbeing team in November 2021. He was identified as a rough sleeper in the southern suburbs and had been sleeping outside a pharmacy so he could obtain his daily prescribed medication.

During the intake interview, George was emotionally distraught and expressed feeling isolated after he attempted suicide earlier in the year, leaving him physically impaired. George was triaged at a level 4, meaning that he was assessed as requiring intensive supports from the Wellbeing team, due to the complexity of his physical and emotional wellbeing.

George engaged well with the Case Manager from Toward Home’s “Divert” team. He was soon offered emergency accommodation and attended regular GP appointments. Peer Workers from the Toward Home Wellbeing team supported George through his appointments as he struggled with anxiety and low confidence. George attended regular psychology appointments and soon enough found his own private rental home. George now lives independently and is able to manage to attend his appointments, collect medication and maintain his own home.

For more information about Toward Home, visit towardhome.org.au

If you’re experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness, get in touch today. Call 1800 809 273

Clients can also connect with Toward Home services by visiting “Access” staff based at WestCare Centre, Southern Pathways Centre, and Hutt St Centre. Through our no wrong door approach, we aim to ensure clients only need to tell their story once, regardless of how they connect with us.

For assistance in a mental health emergency, please contact one of the below services that can offer assistance 24 hours a day:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
• Mental Health Triage Services: 13 14 65
• In a life-threatening emergency, call 000

*Client’s name has been changed