Latest news with #supportservices
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
LGBTQ+ support option on 988 crisis hotline to end due to budget cuts
The 988 crisis hotline has been used more than 13 million times in the last three years, providing critical mental health support to Americans in need. Now, a specialized service for LGBTQ+ individuals is being eliminated. When callers press option 3 on the 988 hotline, they're connected with representatives specifically trained to help members of the LGBTQ+ community. This service will end on July 1 due to budget cuts from the Trump administration. A Baltimore woman who used the service after experiencing domestic violence shared her experience with WMAR. She requested anonymity for privacy reasons. READ MORE:
The Guardian
4 days ago
- The Guardian
Australia is failing families affected by child sexual abuse. We must listen to the intervention and prevention experts
Child sexual abuse is a global public health crisis that directly or indirectly affects every single human being on the planet and costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year. Its lasting harms are wide-ranging, complex, amorphous, generational. In Australia, one in five boys and one in three girls are sexually abused before the age of 18. One in 10 men have a history of offending against children, online or offline. The most common adult perpetrator is a caregiver in the home. Child sexual abuse accounts for at least half of prosecuted sexual offences in this country. If you aren't a victim-survivor, perpetrator or both, the chances are you love someone who is. Eight years ago, the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse made a gamut of recommendations to address the problem from every angle. Among them was provision of national support services for non-offending family members of child sexual abuse offenders, who are typically left devastated and traumatised once the offending is revealed, as well as an early intervention service for people concerned about their sexual interest or behaviour towards children. Both measures feature in the 2021 National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse and its corresponding national action plan, overseen by the National Office for Child Safety (NOCS) – which falls within the Attorney-General's Department. These services are designed to fill major gaps in the Australian response to child sexual abuse. And although tenders for these services were supposed to go to market in 2022, they weren't opened until a year later. They closed in February 2024. As of today, no contract has been signed for the delivery of these vital services. The process has been so protracted, unethical and mishandled that it warranted an independent audit conducted by the Australian National Audit Office (Anao). The Anao report, released last week, found that the Attorney-General's Department is failing in its duty to deliver essential services to prevent sexual abuse before it occurs and support affected families. The procurement process was found to be flawed in multiple ways. Perhaps most alarmingly, the highest scoring tender for family support services was inexplicably struck out in favour of the second ranked tender. Out of 11 tenderers, seven failed to comply with one or more of the assessment criteria. In sourcing consultants for the procurement process, the department was found to have engaged in non-competitive practices, contravening its own commonwealth procurement rules. Despite these shortcomings, the Attorney-General's Department is insisting that the audit will not change the outcome of the tenders. While the department's excuse for the delays is that these are 'complex' services, it is demonstrably unfair to apportion blame to the sector. The problem isn't an absence of services or experts able to manage complexity, it's government incompetence and insufficient funding. More to the point, regardless of the reason, the dire consequences of the delays extend far beyond the service providers and traumatised consumers in need. There is an unknown but guaranteed number of children who have suffered otherwise preventable sexual abuse as a result. In any other area of national crisis and priority, the contracting and delivery of critical services is unlikely to be so drawn out and poorly handled. How could something so widespread and urgent be treated with such blatant disregard? Because child sexual abuse is ugly, uncomfortable and impossible to sanitise for the mainstream. The bleak reality of child sexual abuse is that it cannot be easily communicated in glossy advertising campaigns or public education programs. The fact is, people with a sexual interest in children need options to stop them before they offend, because the moment they take that step, they leave behind a trail of destruction that includes not just their victims and their families, but their own devastated partners and children. The need for robust, specialised child sexual abuse intervention and prevention services could not be more apparent. Australia has had no national support for non-offending family members of child sexual abuse perpetrators for more than two years. After a police raid removes every device from a family home, who supports the mother? What does she do with her trauma? How does she care for her children? Who do the children of parents who've offended call? The service models that Australia needs already exist. They've been built by experts, refined over years, and proven to work. Hope lies there, and with the stalwart frontline workers and advocates across the country who will keep fighting for funding because we believe that preventing child sexual abuse is a worthy and achievable goal that benefits all of us. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit In an emergency, call 000. International helplines can be found via The Stop It Now! helpline is 1800 011 800. Grace Tame was the 2021 Australian of the Year, and is director of the Grace Tame Foundation This article has been co-signed by: Prof Michael Salter, director of the Childlight East Asia and Pacific Hub at UNSW; Prof Jon Rouse APM, Childlight East Asia and Pacific Hub at UNSW and AiLECs Lab Monash University; Hetty Johnston AM; Rosie Batty AO; Rachel Green, CEO of SANE; Natalie Walker, PartnerSPEAK founder
News.com.au
21-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Hutt St Centre planning to open dedicated women's shelter as domestic violence crisis deepens
South Australia's housing crisis remains at breaking point, with one of the biggest homeless shelters fearing it could be forced to turn away clients as it hits capacity within years. The Hutt St Centre is even planning on opening a dedicated shelter, just for women and kids, as it fights to keep with a concerning rise in families being forced onto the streets. The charity had almost 43,000 visits from South Australians doing it tough in the past 12 months - the most in its 70-year history. It also handed out more than 22,000 pieces of material aid, such as clothing and personal hygiene, and served over 47,000 meals. Staggeringly, there has been a 116 per cent increase in visits to its Wellbeing Centre since 2020/2021. Women are the fastest growing group experiencing homelessness in SA, with the centre experiencing a 38 per cent jump in females accessing assistance this financial year compared to 2020/21. There has also been a nearly 50 per cent rise in people who had never previously experienced homelessness visiting the centre over the same period. It has also seen a reduction in clients with a criminal history or drug and alcohol problems. Hutt Street chief executive Chris Burns feared demand would only increase in the coming years, with the cost-of-living, domestic violence and housing crises pushing more people out -of-stable accommodation. 'The face of homelessness is changing; you're reminded of (that) every day,' Mr Burns said. 'People with great jobs and brilliant qualifications can still become homeless and we've got former senior public servants, high school teachers, people very high up in business who are now accessing our services. 'We've all got to remember, this could happen to you, or someone you love or someone very near to you in a heartbeat, it just takes one bad event. 'We can't see what is going to abate the cost-of-living crisis … the number of houses needed are decades away.' The Hutt Street Centre recently underwent a $2.2 million upgrade, boasting a new private retreat for families, medical treatment rooms, creative hub and all-weather outdoor courtyard for dining and group activities. Despite the fresh facilities, the welfare centre is set to reach its capacity - 71,500 visits a year - by late 2028. Mr Burns said the centre may have to turn away clients, without another significant expansion or government support. They are now considering opening another centre just for women and children due to the concerning rise in clients experiencing domestic violence. 'For every woman that comes to us for help, there's probably another one who doesn't want to come into the centre because there's men there,' he said. 'If we don't do something between now and December 2028, we're going to get to the point where we will have to turn people, which is totally against our ethos.'
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Old Brewery Mission opens mixed housing in Lachine
The Old Brewery Mission opened its first mixed housing facility in Montreal's Lachine borough for people who need help getting back on their feet. Of the 18 units, 13 are studio apartments for singles and there are five larger apartments for couples, all in a renovated corner building. President and CEO James Hughes explains that separate quarters for men and women can reduce accessibility for people in need. 'These are duos that lean on each other, that won't move into housing without each other,' says Hughes. Each unit has a kitchen and bathroom, plus access to shared spaces like laundry rooms and a garden area. Located in Lachine, this is the first time the Old Brewery Mission establishes social housing outside the greater downtown area. Hughes says living on the streets isn't only a downtown issue. 'We need three things to solve homelessness or reduce vulnerability. You need an apartment. You need a rent supplement to make sure that the unit is affordable. And the third aspect is services,' he explains. Services include social support and back to work training. Craig Kowal is looking forward to signing a lease and says having a stable place to live is the next step to making a fresh start. Originally from Pointe St-Charles, Kowal has been working to turn things around. 'It's been a few pretty rough years drug use and not having a permanent place to live, so I've kind of been couch surfing for a while. I completed a therapy in 2023, so I've been clean now for a couple of years. It feels great. But one of the challenges is having a stable place to live,' he says. Lachine Mayor Maja Vodanovic says social housing is a good investment. 'It's cheaper for the government, it's cheaper for society to house everyone than to have people on the street,' she says. This project was financed in part by funds from all three levels of government along with a generous $4.5 million donation from industrial supplies company Tenaquip. The housing project is called Tenaquip Place. 'This is a perfect example of all levels of government coming together to do something, and we just have to keep doing it. And I just hope that the government gives more money because I don't think you can expect private foundations to give so much money every time,' says Vodanovic. Michael Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Tenaquip Foundation, is proud to be part of the initiative. 'Tenaquip Place and housing units like this are the beginning: a step in the right direction to ending homelessness,' he says. Fitzgerald says this partnership with the Old Brewery Mission will help the most vulnerable - including those outside of the downtown core. And for Kowal, it means a fresh start. 'I'm happy to be here. I'm excited for a new phase of my life. more stability, work and a better life,' he says.
CTV News
18-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Organization providing services to those fleeing abuse launches Regina chapter
It's been in the works since February, and on Monday, Shelter Movers Regina had their official launch, making it the first of its kind in the province of Saskatchewan. Shelter Movers is a Canadian organization that provides free moving and storage services to individuals and families fleeing abuse. According to Shelter Movers Regina Director Lisa Williams, a Regina chapter was past due. 'The rates of domestic violence here in Saskatchewan are twice the national average. And we know that folks are finding the courage to leave, and we'll find the hands to help,' she said. Finding the hands to help is the motto of Shelter Movers, which was founded by CEO Marc Hull-Jacquin from his basement in 2016. Hull-Jacquin said he started the organization because he believes every parent deserves the chance to give their kids a safe place to sleep at night. 'I wanted to create something that was authentic and real and impactful. Something that would create real change in our community, and I realized that women fleeing abuse often have to do that all by themselves,' he explained. 'They have a bag in their hand and the child in the other and they're running for their lives, and we have to do better. Shelter Movers is part of that story.' Williams told CTV News that the process to recruit a full staff of volunteers for Shelter Movers Regina is ongoing and that logistics involved with relocating victims of abuse is a very involved process. 'We ask them a bunch of questions about when they want to leave, how they want to leave, how many boxes do they have, do they have pets, do they speak English,' she explained. It is an all-hands-on deck approach when it comes to the amount of collaborative effort it takes to open a new chapter of Shelter Movers. 'We need about 40 to 50 volunteers, usually people from all walks of life who want to give their time and talents. Whether it's on the moves or in the back coordinating and planning the moves to make sure that these happen efficiently, discreetly, and always according to the survivor's priorities,' Hull-Jacquin said. Shelter Movers works through a referral process, with local organizations such as Sofia House, Regina Transition House and local law enforcement. Businesses and associations like Big Steel Box Regina have stepped up to provide free storage space for survivor's belongings. The group is still in the process of hiring and training volunteers, and hopes to be 'all hands on deck' by late July.
