Today in Australia, more than 45,813 women are homeless, with children making up 27% of the homeless population.
Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC) is a non-government, not-for-profit charitable organisation that delivers a range of crisis and early intervention accommodation and support services to women, transgender people, children and families who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness and/or domestic and family violence.
Operating across inner City Sydney and the inner west for 40 years, WAGEC are committed to helping end homelessness by working holistically with their clients to find creative housing and support solutions that meet their needs and empower them to take control of their own lives.
In collaboration with their partners, WAGEC provide the right kind of support when it is needed most, underscored by a strong commitment to core values of respect, support and partnership.
CORE SERVICES
Central support
Located in Redfern, the central support office is often the first point of contact for clients connecting to WAGEC and is overseen by experienced staff and case managers who provide a comprehensive assessment of the presenting client’s situation and determine which services and programs will best meet their housing and support needs.
Crisis accommodation
WAGEC operate three short term crisis accommodation facilities for women and families, providing a total of 90 crisis accommodation beds on any given night.
Access to safe and secure accommodation is paramount as the majority of the women and children residing at the refuges have experienced domestic and family violence.
Here clients are able to work with their case manager to obtain sustainable housing outcomes, link in with other support services, and re-build their self-esteem and capacity to live their lives to the full.
Supported Transitional Housing Program
WAGEC provides 34 transitional properties for families and a large ten-bed transitional property for single women, which offers women and families the stability of affordable housing before they transition to long term tenancies.
Clients living in these properties also benefit from ongoing support from their case manager, who assists them in setting goals for long term housing, employment and education, and to build connections within the community.
Being not for profit, WAGEC relies on generous donations to support its core services, and to continue to provide women and their families with the support they need.
Donations go towards:
- Increasing the capacity of support services, as well as therapy and lifestyle classes
- Specialised skills courses
- Tutoring for children
- Refurbishment of communal areas in crisis accommodation for client comfort and security
- Purchase of critical equipment for clients, such as secure phones, common-use PCs and educational laptops for children
Along with financial donations, WAGEC benefit greatly from the donation of specific items, such as toiletries, clothing and household cleaning products. For a full list of items that are currently needed, click here.
To find out more about WAGEC, or to donate, head to: www.wagec.org.au
Or get in touch via: donations@nullwagec.org.au