A Catholic Care Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains initiative is supporting young pregnant women and mothers who urgently need a place to stay with their children. Source: Catholic Outlook.
Catholic Care’s executive director Helen Emmerson said the Houses 2 Homes initiative provides temporary accommodation in discreet residential locations across Blacktown and Parramatta for up to two years to enable vulnerable young women aged 16-25 access the support they need.
“We really wanted to bring this vital service into the spotlight and show everyone the wonderful work that we’re doing here,” Ms Emmerson said.
The secure, warm and comfortable on-site and off-site residential homes are only “the start of the journey” for these women.
Many have experienced significant trauma following domestic and family violence, sexual abuse, job losses, and health impacts. They often arrive at Catholic Care with little more than a plastic bag of belongings. Some do not even have a blanket or little socks for their baby.
“For a lot of these young women, this is actually when the trauma sets in,” Ms Emmerson said.
This is why Catholic Care is working to provide at-risk women and their children with holistic support for their physical, emotional, mental and financial health and wellbeing.
“What we do here is just so much more than just providing secret accommodation,” she said.
Head of Services Brooke McGilvray said the Houses 2 Homes program includes referral pathways towards long-term stable housing, case management and family support, home visits and guidance, empowerment, advocacy, access to parenting programs, living skills support, employment and education opportunities, as well as assistance in connecting with other services in the community.
“We’re a very small piece of the puzzle at Houses 2 Homes, but we play quite a vital role across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains,” Ms McGilvray said.
“With more women and children coming to us than we can currently support, we need more community donations to help expand this critical service,” she said.
FULL STORY
‘Houses 2 Homes’ initiative supports young mothers and children against homelessness (By Belinda Gadd, Catholic Outlook)
