Canberra Men's Centre - Supported Accomm

Supported Accommodation

Men's Accommodation & Support Service

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

Description of service

MASS provides supported accommodation for single men, unaccompanied by children, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including those who are leaving custody or are involved in the criminal justice system. 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

Up to twenty men are accommodated in properties acquired under the Housing ACT CORHAP arrangements and managed by Canberra Men's Centre (CMC). Eligible applicants will be allocated a property and will receive intensive case management for up to 12 months with the aim of developing an independent tenancy arrangement for them with Housing ACT in that property. Outreach support in a case management model will continue as required following the period of intensive support.

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. However, service users enter into a tenancy agreement with CMC and are expected to pay rent and make provision for their own living expenses.

Issues dealt with:

social networks	social and living skills	health
recreation	alcohol / drug use	mental health
disabilities	legal issues	and personality disorders which impact on the individual's capacity to sustain stable accommodation.

Admission Criteria

Five places are allocated specifically to men involved in the Justice system - in prison, on remand or on probation. MASS will work through protocols established with ACT Corrections, ACT Sentence Administration Board, Community Corrections and Legal Aid. The other 15 places will be made available to men referred through existing emergency and short-term accommodation services (eg; Samaritan House, Mary's Place), as well as through mental health and other community services.

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.