2/7/02
A new 24-hour crisis accommodation service for young homeless people in Fremantle is one step closer with Community Development Minister Sheila McHale announcing that Great Mates Inc has been contracted to provide the service.
Great Mates Inc, run by former ace Wildcats basketballer James Crawford, has been funded $350,000 a year for three years to provide six crisis accommodation places and four transitional accommodation places.
Crisis accommodation is generally for up to three months and transitional accommodation is for up to six months.
"The new $1.2million service over three years is part of the Gallop Government's election commitment to address youth homelessness in Western Australia," MsMcHale said.
"This service is greatly needed as young people around Fremantle currently have to travel north to Victoria Park or south to Rockingham for somewhere to stay in an emergency."
Great Mates will work with young people from a range of different backgrounds.
The program will provide innovative mentoring and sporting opportunities.
"Using sporting, business and community sponsorships, Great Mates will link young homeless people to mentors and positive supports so they can improve family relationships to return home or move to more stable long-term accommodation," Ms McHale said.
"This innovative approach to youth homelessness will be complemented by specialist support for those young people with drug and alcohol problems.
"A youth drug counsellor will be funded through the Drug and Alcohol Office of the Department of Health.
"This is a direct result of the State Government's Community Drug Summit last year which highlighted the need for youth crisis accommodation services in the metropolitan area to have the resources to work with young people with drug problems."
The Department of Health's funding for this project is $46,000 per year for three years.
Great Mates is expected to have the accommodation service open in two to three months.
Ms McHale said the service will be located in the greater Fremantle area. However, young people from outside this area will not be excluded if vacancies exist.
A community consultation process earlier in the year helped shape the new service.
Minister's office: 9213 6900
