Canberra Men's Centre

Outreach

Men's Accommodation & Support Service

The Men's Accommodation and Support Service (MASS) commenced operations in July 2004. This service receives funding from the Surpported Accommodation Assistance program (SAAP), which is joint funded by the ACT and Australian Governments.

Description of service

MASS provides Outreach support (ie; offered in the home or community, not office based) to single men, unaccompanied by children, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, or who have exited CMC's Supported Accommodation service and need ongoing support.

Objectives of the program are to ensure that men:

gain enhanced safety and improved health outcomes develop opportunities to increase knowledge, skills and confidence to manage future crises increase their awareness of, and capacity to access, ongoing education, community resources and support networks are better able to sustain stable accommodation.

are able to develop ongoing skills to access appropriate mainstream and specialist services.

Approach

The service uses a flexible Case Management approach which emphasises 'working with' rather than 'working for' service users. Service users are treated by their Case Managers with respect and as individuals with their own goals, values, and priorities. Service users are consulted and directly involved in planning and decision-making processes as staff work to ensure that their particular needs are being met.

Costs

There are no fees and access to the service is not contingent on the service user's ability to pay.

Issues dealt with

Generally, anything arising from complex needs related, but not limited to social isolation or conflict within support networks, legal issues, income issues, alcohol and other substance abuse, disability-related and mental health problems.

Admission criteria

Single men without children who are at risk of homelessness due to circumstances which impact on their capacity to sustain stable accommodation.

Vacancies and Waiting Lists

For information about vacancies and waiting lists, please contact the manager, Gerald Franks at geraldf@menscentre.com.au or phone (02) 6230 6999 during office hours.

Referral process

Simply complete a referral form and send it to the Canberra Men's Centre. Referral applications will be considered by the Manager, subject to existing waiting lists and prioritizing of needs for all men referred.