Homeless Accomodation Service

St. Bartholomew’s House Homeless & Transitional Support Service (Appleton Hostel) offers secure accommodation and support services for single men aged 18 years and above experiencing homelessness.

We provide short-term accommodation to people who need some time -

(a) to re-adjust or rehabilitate themselves after a social crisis; or
(b) to find long term accommodation options.

Our aim is to assist in the transition from homelessness to independent living within the wider community

General Information

The House has three units:
Claisebrook Unit – crisis & short term, shared & single rooms
Lawson Unit      -   single rooms- transition to independent living
Peter Hodge Hostel- single rooms- transition to independent living

Admission

Admissions are generally from 8.00am to 8.00pm.
There are no admissions after 8.00pm.

On admission Residents will be accommodated in shared accommodation.

Crisis accommodation is only available for up to 7 days. Thereafter Residents will be asked to move to single accommodation at a higher rate. Residents are required to pay at least one week in advance after the first fortnight

Payment is due in advance for all accommodation; please see the Front Office staff or the Coordinator before 12.00 noon, Monday to Friday to arrange payment. Residents not keeping their rent payments up to date risk losing their accommodation.

Accommodation charges will not exceed more than 75% of a Resident’s benefit income and includes the room, bed linen & towel, 3 meals per day & supper, a supply of basic toiletries & tea bags and access to a range of activities offered by St Bart’s activities program.

Referrals

Referrals from Hospitals, Mental Health Services and/or those with high care needs.

Referral requests for men with a mental health diagnosis, returning from Hospital or with a specific high care need  are only accepted  during office hours, not on weekends or public holidays.

Please be aware there is a wait list for men with a mental health diagnosis.

Referral Form

The referring service is required to complete a referral request form outlining the prospective Resident’s details before the application is considered. The Coordinator will determine if the applicant can be admitted and would be suitable for the St Bartholomew’s House community.

Case Management – Reconnecting Lives

Assisting our clients with accessing the services and supports they are entitled to, is one of our main focuses at St Bart’s.

Case management is a process of working with the client on an individual level and focuses on their needs, goals, and developing flexible strategies to assist them to achieve their goals. All clients at St Bart’s are assigned a Case Manager once they have settled into their new surroundings. On-going case management provides our clients with the support they may need to tackle some of the issues in their lives.

Empowering our clients to make positive changes is the aim of our Case Management program.

Outreach Program

St Bart’s has a dedicated Outreach Support Program, offering clients who have found alternative accommodation with optional support once they have exited supported accommodation.

Settling into new accommodation, a new area and a new community can be quite daunting. Providing our clients with additional support while they take this huge step can help to ensure that the client continues on the right track, enabling them to reach their goals.

The Outreach Program runs for three months once the client has moved into new accommodation.

Computer Literacy

In 2011 we feel lost and disconnected if we don’t have access to our computer, iPad or at least an iPhone.

We organise and manage our lives online.  Banking is done online, employment applications are submitted online, and where would we be without email communication, Google and social networking sites such as Facebook?

St Bart’s understands that this knowledge is key to residents’ success in an independent living environment, and offers regular computer classes with particular attention to the online services residents will require when they leave St Bart’s.

These classes, with the support of dedicated St Bart’s staff members, empower residents to take control of their lives, and opens the door to a world of possibility that many never knew existed.

Cooking and Nutrition

Cooking is becoming a world-wide phenomenon. Though not many of us are professionals in the kitchen, most of us know a few basic, fail-proof meals that we love to cook for our families. For the homeless this is an unheard of luxury, and a can of baked beans is considered to be as valuable as gold.

Learning to cook inexpensive, nutritious meals is an important skill in the transition from life on the street to independent living.

At St Bart’s, residents are encouraged to take part in domestic activities, with cooking and our Master Chef competitions proving to be a favourite.

Working from a recipe, and with the help of a St Bart’s staff member, residents learn about the benefits of good nutrition and eating balanced meals. For some residents this is their first opportunity to try their hand at cooking, for others it poses a welcome challenge as they broaden their repertoire.

Supporting our residents to take part, removes any angst that they might associate with these activities, and introduces fun into it. The residents feel a sense of achievement and realise that they are capable of taking care of themselves.

With the help of Case Managers, residents learn to develop shopping lists and to take into account their budget for meals.

Personal Care Education

For many residents it has been a long time since they had the basic facilities we take for granted, and for some there is a need for re-training in personal hygiene and cleanliness.

At all stages of a resident’s stay at St Bartholomew’s House, they are expected to contribute to a clean and tidy living environment in preparation for their future independence.

The accessibility to simple facilities, such as showers and washing machines, allows residents to take ownership of their personal care and gives them renewed dignity and pride. During Case Management sessions, residents are given the opportunity to voice concerns of a personal nature which can be discussed in private.

Social activities

Promoting a healthy lifestyle is important to St Bart’s and the promotion of good nutrition is most effective when combined with physical activity.

Group sports and activities, in addition to the known health benefits, encourage social interaction and communication skills. St Bart’s arranges many activities for residents including football tournaments, kayaking and surfing, while trips with Reclink allow residents to meet people from other places and backgrounds.

These activities give residents the opportunity to relax, and enjoy some social time with others in a life situation they can relate to.

Give Someone a Place to Call Home -Street to Home

The Street to Home program is focussed on reaching out to those whose lives are in crisis, and is aimed at ultimately breaking the cycle of homelessness.

In many cases the Street to Home program anticipates where individuals are at risk of becoming homeless, and takes a preventative approach by removing them from a state of uncertainty and distress, and helping them to be relocated to a secure and supported environment.

Housing Support Workers source adequate accommodation for clients, supporting them each step of the way. They work with residents for approximately 12 months, supporting them in many aspects of day to day living and covering a myriad of supplied services, addressing each individual’s unique and complex needs.

Street to Home is delivered by multiple service providers enabling access to relevant client health needs. St Bart’s Housing Support Workers collaborate to develop case management plans that assist clients to secure and maintain accommodation. St Bart’s has many clients from all walks of life – all with a story and a reason for their homelessness.

Program staff reach out to the elderly on the verge of homelessness due to the increased cost of living; individuals with substance and alcohol addiction issues; victims of domestic abuse; and those sleeping on the street.

Rooms

The House shall endeavour to give Residents as much privacy as possible with the Resident’s room being his own personal space, which may only be entered under exceptional circumstances or if staff members have a concern for your well being.

It is Resident’s responsibility to keep the House premises and their room clean and tidy. Failure to keep the room at an acceptable level of cleanliness may result in Residents being requested to find alternative accommodation.

In the shared accommodation, it is each Resident’s responsibility to make their bed and ensure their bed area is left in a tidy state.

Smoking

Under the Health Regulations, smoking is only permitted outdoors in the designated areas.

Counselling (General)

There are a number of agencies which provide counselling for general difficulties. Residents wanting to see a counsellor should speak with the Coordinator for referrals to the most appropriate agency.

Some Important House Rules

St Bartholomew’s has a zero tolerance policy to drugs & alcohol on site or returning intoxicated.

The possession of and/or use of illegal mood-altering drugs, drug implements and alcohol is not permitted on the premises.

The Management reserves the right to search bags and/or other belongings if there is reason to believe they might contain drugs, drug implements or alcohol.

Weapons of any kind are not permitted onto the premises.

Recreational Areas

The House has a TV and video/DVD player in the Claisebrook and Lawson units and a pool table in the Lawson and Peter Hodge units.
Laundry facilities are available for Resident use for washing personal clothing, their bed linen & towels.

Contacts

Front Office  9323 5208
HTSS Coordinators 9323 5119 or 9323 5177
78 Brown Street, East Perth.  6004