Grant to provide long-term accommodation for residents with mental illness

Mental Health Minister Helen Morton today presented a $134,103 State Government-supported Lotterywest grant to the Emmaus Community to provide long-term accommodation for adults with a mental illness.

Mrs Morton said the grant to the Emmaus Community would help with property improvements and household items at its Queens Park and Bentley group homes, which support 38 men and women between 18 and 84 years of age.

"The Emmaus Community housing provides important accommodation in Perth for people with mental illness and the grant will help increase the organisation's environmental sustainability and capacity to help residents," she said.

"The organisation provides daily emotional and physical support for people in its care and maintains a close working relationship with public mental health and other relevant service providers."

The Emmaus Community, founded by Catholic Brother Alan Archer, earns the majority of its income from it rental payments for accommodation at its eight group homes and daily living support from its residents.

The Minister said Brother Al's philosophy that 'everyone deserved to love and be loved' was at the heart of the Government's approach to mental health reform in Western Australia.

"Brother Al started this community because he saw that people living with mental illness thrived on being in a supportive environment," she said.

"The Liberal-National Government's vision is that all West Australians with a mental illness are supported to stay in the community, out of hospital and living a meaningful life."

Mrs Morton said the Emmaus Community also supported an extended community which used its Community Drop-In facilities including parents, family and friends of current residents together with many other people with mental illness.