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About us and what we do
Beyond Shelter-Australia is a private, non-profit, non-party political, non-religious multi-ethnic and multi-racial agency whose mission is to combat chronic poverty , welfare dependency and homelessness among families with children, through the provision of housing and social services and the promotion of systemic change.
Beyond Shelter - Australia is membership based organisation that supports the Beneficiaries of its programmes. Fee paying members receive absolutely no benefit other than out of pocket expenses approved by the Honorary Board of Directors. All accounts are kept by a chartered accountancy and audited independently.
- Principal purposes
To provide direct relief of poverty, sickness, suffering, distress, misfortune, disability or helplessness to people;
To provide relief in the form of money, goods and services to people in necessitous circumstances;
To provide service-enriched affordable housing for low-income people.
- The Problem
Breaking the Cycle of Welfare Dependency & Confronting the Barriers to Employment
The challenge of breaking the cycle of welfare dependency, particularly for the hardest-to-employ, has become of critical importance on a national and local level. The focus of this challenge is to help welfare-dependent individuals overcome the multiple barriers to employment that they face.
Several studies have indicated that a large number of welfare dependent heads-of-household, particularly those who are single and female, face two categories of barriers to employment: personal/individual and systemic/structural. Many of these barriers are interconnected and impact the individual as a complex web of obstacles to self-sufficiency.
Systemic Barriers
Systemic barriers to employment for many welfare dependent heads-of-household are well-documented and include lack of appropriate training or opportunities, a shortage of jobs that pay a liveable wage, lack of child care, and transportation problems. For a mother receiving welfare, there is the reality of the costs associated with work - adequate child care for her children, and the costs in time and money for transportation, either owning a car, or having to rely on public transportation.
Psychological Barriers
Psychological barriers are often more difficult to overcome than barriers such as child care and transportation. Single-parent welfare recipients often feel immobilized, disempowered, helpless, overwhelmed and anxious. Their living patterns are unstable, and they have histories of failure, low self-esteem, fear of the unknown, poor education, joblessness or weak employment histories, and have lacked proper role models. Many suffer from general depression. At least 50 percent will also have histories of domestic violence and/or drug or alcohol abuse. Many families may be considered multi-problem families, living in chronic poverty. Often they experience periodic episodes of homelessness or unstable housing situations. Their family dynamics are usually unstable or stressful, with extended family support or other social support systems being weak or nonexistent. Likewise, their money management and household management skills are weak. Adults in drug abuse treatment programs must also deal with all of the above problems while addressing personal issues related to recovery.
- What disadvantaged groups do we serve?
Families that are Homeless or at risk of Homelessness. Research by us and by others has shown that the most disadvantaged groups within this category are families of one or both parents with one or more dependant children.
Homeless children [so called 'street kids'] that have left their family unit.
As our name indicates we are not a Crisis Management organisation, nor do we provide temporary shelter; we are Beyond Shelter. Applicant families must agree to participate in one of our programme to become a Participant in our services. They must be free of alcohol or other drug related problems and willing to allow us to facilitate their move from welfare dependency to self sufficiency.
Definitions
"Poverty" means living in conditions well below those expected and enjoyed by the majority of Australians and is not confined to a complete lack of finances
"Homeless" means that a person is homeless if he or she does not have access to safe, secure and stable housing. Hence even if a person has a physical home, they would be considered homeless if: - They were not safe at home; or - They had no legal right to continue occupation of their home (security of tenure); or - The home lacked the amenities or resources necessary for living.
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- What human services do we provide?
We run several programmes designed to assist young families to get out of the welfare trap and into work. The goal is to ensure families reach self sufficiency and become independent within a two year time frame. [There is however no time limit placed on Beneficiaries]
Our "Welfare to Work [with dignity]" program is dependant upon Participants being in stable and secure housing. Given the shortage of "welfare housing" throughout Australia the most vulnerable families are in danger of being trapped in the welfare system. Unfortunately the cost of housing is rising and becoming less affordable despite the rhetoric of many in the housing industry. A recognised guide worldwide is that a house should cost no more than 2 1/2 to 3 times the purchasers salary.
The growing cost of housing means that the Australian Government at all levels is being forced to subsidise accomodation for the poor. Clearly the lack of housing demonstrated by the wait-lists and the homeless is not improving and the welfare cost is rising. Totally unsustainable
Our Habitat 21 program sees families becoming part of their own future with self-help building. Fully sustainable and family satisfaction of obtaining personal equity and dignity.
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- What are the benefits to those in need?
Personal Trainer
Beneficiaries and their family can expect to benefit from many aspects of the Beyond Shelter - Australia programmes. To have a free-of-charge personal trainer who is fully backed by a dedicated support team itself is a major contribution. Many families will benefit from the tips given to solve their budget problems of living on a low income.
Employment Counsellor
Conducts employment needs assessment identifying psychological and other barriers to employment.
Development of individualized Welfare-to-Work Plan to address the barriers
Provides individualized job readiness activities and pre-employment counselling and support
Provides direct job placement and ongoing support to client to ensure job retention
Maintains contact with employer and case manager during the transition from welfare to work
Adult Education and Homework Help
Adults will be able to attend 'courses' covering use of computer programmes; basic job skills across a wide range of positions [particularly in conjunction with participating employers]
Children of school age will have access to the adjoining Gosnells library and resources. Beyond Shelter - Australia computer facilities will be available after school for 'homework' with fully supervised access to the latest encyclopaedias programmes and the Internet.
Creation of Individual Development Plans
Upon enrollment, a Beyond Shelter - Australia employment Counsellor conducts a personal and educational test to establish a base-line profile of each participant and the specific barriers to address.
Provision of Individualized Job Development and Placement Support
All Beneficiaries participate in a variety of individualized job development and placement activities. These activities included the creation of a functional resume, identification of appropriate entry-level jobs, acquisition of interview clothing and development of a job search strategy. Throughout the interviewing and hiring process, Beyond Shelter staff provided continuous support, as well as complete access to telephones, resource directories, computers, printers and other office equipment.
Job Readiness Program -
All Beneficiaries attend five two-hour small group sessions and additional one-on-one counselling.
Basic Skills Instruction -
Beneficiaries who have low reading and math skills receive basic instruction and tutoring.
Post Employment Support -
Beneficiaries received support from both the employment Counsellor and Welfare-to-Work case manager for up to one year after obtained employment.
Heart and Home Club
"Home is where the heart is" Beneficiaries and other interested persons will enjoy participating in this exclusive club.
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- Beyond Shelter - Australia Programmes
The following is part 5 and 6 of our Constitution. A full copy is available to all paid members.
Ending Poverty
Beyond Shelter-Australia recognises the need for people suffering from chronic poverty to find urgent relief from poverty and to re-build their self confidence.
Direct financial assistance is provided to Beneficiaries as well as providing free work related training.
Our relationship will be one of working with, the individuals and families who benefit from this program by providing to them, at no cost, case managers.
Case managers work with Beneficiaries for at least 12 months and ensure that all free of charge services provided by Beyond Shelter - Australia and other private or government organisations are optimised for their benefit.
Ending Homelessness
Homelessness is one of our nation's most serious social problems. The link between poverty and homelessness is well established.
While it is often the result of interwoven systemic and personal problems, the primary cause of homelessness among families is the growing gap between housing costs and income. Australia has also a new class of poverty, the 'working poor' who find housing more difficult to obtain.
Emergency shelters are unable to provide the intensive long-term assistance which homeless families require in order to stabilise their lives.
There is a shortage of affordable housing available, particularly for larger families with children, and property owners will not rent to a family that has a poor credit history or a previous eviction.
In particular, single mothers with children face enormous obstacles in finding affordable, appropriate rental housing. Beyond Shelter - Australia help Beneficiaries by finding affordable housing, negotiating leases, and helping them develop the skills to stay housed.
While acknowledging and addressing the personal factors that contribute to family homelessness, the "Housing First" methodology was designed to more effectively address the economic root causes of the problem: poverty and the lack of affordable housing.
The "Housing First" Methodology is an alternative to traditional models of emergency shelter and transitional housing; it advocates for the early relocation of homeless families to safe, decent, affordable permanent housing.
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OBJECTS
The objects for which Beyond Shelter-Australia is established are:
To provide direct relief of poverty, sickness, suffering, distress, misfortune, disability or helplessness to people;
To provide relief in the form of money, goods and services to people in necessitous circumstances;
To provide service-enriched affordable housing for low-income people.
To plan for and assist underprivileged, neglected children and families, people who are unemployed, single parents, people with a disability, the sick, the infirm and the aged;
To enhance the quality of life of families and individuals, while affirming their autonomy and dignity.
To promote programs and methodologies to help families & individuals attain improved economic and social well being.
To purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire and otherwise acquire any lands, buildings, easements or property, real and personal: and any rights or privileges which may be requisite for the purposes of, or capable of being conveniently used in connection with, any of the objects of Beyond Shelter-Australia. Provided that in case Beyond Shelter-Australia shall take or hold any property which may be subject to any trusts Beyond Shelter-Australia shall only deal with the same in such manner as is allowed by the law having regard to such trusts.
To enter into any arrangements with any Government or authority, supreme, municipal local or otherwise, that may seem conducive to Beyond Shelter-Australia objects or any of them; and to obtain from any such Government or authority any rights. privileges and concessions which Beyond Shelter-Australia may think it desirable to obtain; and to carry out, exercise and comply with any such arrangements, rights, privileges and concessions.
To appoint, employ, remove or suspend such managers, clerks, secretaries, social workers, professional and non-professional persons and any other persons as may be necessary or convenient for the purposes of Beyond Shelter-Australia.
To construct. improve, maintain, develop, work, manage, carry out, alter or control any houses, buildings, grounds, works or conveniences which may seem calculated directly or indirectly to advance Beyond Shelter-Australia interest and to contribute to subsidise or otherwise assist and take part in the construction improvement maintenance, development, working, management carrying out, alteration or control thereof
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