St Pat’s Receive Extra Emergency Relief Funding

St Patrick’s Community Support Centre will receive a Lotterywest grant of $360,000 to support people experiencing financial hardship through the provision of Crisis and Emergency Relief.

Simone McGurk, local Member for Fremantle, presented the award to St Pat’s on Friday.

Simone McGurk noted that –

“St Pat’s Community Centre provides an invaluable service to those who need it most in the wider Fremantle community and this additional funding for emergency relief acknowledges that important work.
“I want to commend the team at St Pat’s, and acknowledge their vital work, for continuing to deliver high-quality services and supports that have a positive impact for many people and their families.
“St Pat’s front-line workers are out there on the streets, meeting people who really need assistance, and linking them to services and supports that are resulting in real, long-term outcomes.”

This funding means up to 1,600 individuals and families who are doing it tough can access support through food vouchers, medical, transport, and utilities costs, and other administration costs.

St Pat’s has been providing support services and accommodation to vulnerable people, particularly those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, in Walyalup / Fremantle and the surrounding area for more than 50 years. They have been an Emergency Relief provider for 16 years.

Over a number of years, and across a number of programs, St Pat’s have received more than $10 million in funding from Lotterywest.

St Pat’s CEO Michael Piu said –

The support from Lotterywest couldn’t come at a better time. It isn’t just that demand for our services is high, it’s that we’re supporting more families with children and people facing multiple, complex challenges. The situation we’re seeing now is the result of pressure on multiple systems and services including the private rental market and social housing, family and domestic violence services, disability, health and mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and justice.

During stormy weather like we’re experiencing at the moment, our main priority is getting
families, older people and those with major health issues out of wet, windy and cold conditions and into somewhere safe. Our ER program is often the first step in the assistance we provide, but it’s by no means the last. Our outreach teams are busy supporting people across the Perth metropolitan region, including Kwinana, Rockingham and Mandurah, and we also provide accommodation to more than 500 people. Meanwhile, our Engagement Hub continues to
provide nutritious meals, hot showers and access to health and dental care, and visiting services.

That’s why access to flexible, non-program linked funding is vital, so we can provide people with the support they need, when they need it.

The St Pat’s Emergency Relief (ER) program provides confidential support for people experiencing homelessness and are in crisis. Their team works with people to determine what kind of support they need, which could be material assistance — such as support with bill payments, assistance accessing food or transport — or referrals and advocacy for housing, disability support, drug and alcohol counselling, financial and legal advice and more.

With Lotterywest’s support, St Pat’s provided ER to 1,218 people in the past 12 months. The ER team also works closely with other services and programs to provide tailored, person-centred support which is responsive to people’s individual needs and situation. Some people might only need to access ER once to get their life back on track, while other people — particularly those with families — might need more intensive support.

St Pat’s Winter Appeal campaign is currently running to help continue to support the
hundreds of people calling St Pat’s for assistance each week as the weather gets colder, and beyond.

If you’d like to make a tax deductible donations you can do so right here.

* By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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