ALLIANCE
Momentum is proud to be a part of a vital Specialist Homelessness Service Alliance that operates across many communities in the Clarence Valley, Richmond and Northern Rivers regions. The partnership is vital to our regions because it offers culturally appropriate and safe services for Aboriginal people and their families. Our Alliance partners include: Women Up North, Clarence River Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services Inc., Northern Rivers Community Gateway, Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council, Casino Local Aboriginal Land Council & Gurehlgam Corporation. Our 2019-20 Annual Report features interviews with some of our partners, who share their thoughts on the importance of having a Specialist Homelessness Service Alliance in our region.
The communities in our area experience economic and social disadvantage and poor employment opportunities and with that comes many forms of disadvantage including homelessness and domestic and family violence. Our First Nation’s community members continue to struggle with systemic racism and find it extremely difficult to find affordable housing and employment. I am confident working with Momentum and the Alliance and believe that Virginia (Virginia Walker, Momentum Collective CEO) has offered some great leadership. One of the most important things we need to work on is a determination to break the cycle of homelessness. We shouldn’t have to compete for funding – domestic violence and homelessness shouldn’t be a political issue. We live in a developed nation but we have high levels of homelessness. It is embarrassing and we need to fix it.
Jillian Knight-Smith, Manager Women Up North The Alliance allows us to bring together specialist homelessness services that match the needs of our local communities. It’s really powerful that we have people in the Clarence region who maintain the history, knowledge and skills that have developed in our communities over many years. Women Up North is a specialist domestic and family violence homelessness service and registered housing provider. We have a history of supporting women and children who have experienced domestic and family violence in transitional accommodation and working with women to source their own properties. We also work with NSW Housing to find accommodation options for our clients. Our organisation has evolved to offer a holistic response. We have a really good network that works collaboratively to reduce duplication and make sure our clients are getting what they need.
24 | Momentum Collective
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator