Batemans Bay Anglican charity Community Life is now able to help men, women and families in crisis following the purchase of Kooringa Coastal Retreat in Batehaven.
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Community Life, which receives no state or federal funding, has purchased the resort from Scripture Union ACT, and is using it for emergency accommodation for families and men and women on their own.
It has been named Hope Place, in line with Community Life’s men’s shelter Hope House in Herarde Street in Batemans Bay.
Hope Place can house up to 46 people, and it may help more than just its clients.
“This is a real leap of faith for us, as we are hoping to appoint at least three people to full- time jobs,” Community Life president Reverend Colin Walters said.
Community Life is liaising with Mission Australia, Public Housing and the Salvation Army to organise clients for up to three nights’ emergency accommodation at a time.
Hope Place is supervised 24 hours a day and has dormitory and single room accommodation as well as rooms for families with up to six children.
Hope House has accommodated 58 men since it started four years ago, and its residents have been carrying out maintenance on the lawns and gardens of Hope Place.
As well as providing accommodation, both Hope Place and Hope House connect clients with services that can help them.
“There are more than 100 homeless people in Batemans Bay and we want to help them break the cycles they are in,” Mr Walters said.
Community Life provides prevention programs for clients on release, such as budgeting and cooking.
Many of Hope House’s clients have been released into its care from prisons and courts.
“We have saved men from jail and saved the government a lot of money,” Mr Walters said.
It is estimated that Community Life saves the state and federal governments $1.7 million a year by keeping its clients out of jails and mental health facilities.
“That’s why we are asking the people of the Bay and beyond to become Hope Place Rent Partners and donate between $1 and $5 a week, or $50 to $250 a year or whatever they can afford to help,” Mr Walters said.
“We will continue to badger state and federal MPs and local businesses for the rest.”
Donation inquiries can be made to the project manager on 0419 581 792 or deposited into the Hope Place Westpac account BSB: 032681 account 293 414.
