Mt Isa gets homeless safe space...
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Centacare North Queensland has officially open the doors to a purpose‐built homelessness and safe space hub called “The DIGs”. Source: The North West Star.
Townsville Bishop Timothy Harris blessed the new building, which is open to all people in the Mount Isa community, as well as those in the surrounding communities of Cloncurry, Boulia, Doomadgee, Mornington Island, Normanton, Darjarra and Camooweal.
The DIGs (short for dignity) includes a bathroom, laundry, fully furnished kitchen, storage facilities and a flexible space for a variety of programs.
Centacare North Queensland’s Executive Director Peter Monaghan said the hub was aimed specifically at assisting those experiencing homelessness, and reducing the number of people at risk of being homeless.
“The Digs is a safe and dignified space for disengaged youth and those experiencing homelessness to get a warm shower, wash and store their belongings, and have a meal,” Mr Monaghan said.
“At the end of the day, it is a place for people to feel welcome no matter what adversity they have been experiencing, to create dignity and self‐worth in a stigma‐free environment.”
With funding of $236,875 from the Queensland Government’s Dignity First Fund, the $290k project establishes a safe and dignified place for the most marginalised and vulnerable members of the community, providing place based supports that Centacare NQ provides to those experiencing adversity.
Queensland Housing and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni said the Dignity First Fund was designed to encourage innovative, non‐traditional projects to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to live through it with dignity.
“Every Queenslander deserves somewhere safe, secure and sustainable to live – a place to call home,” Mr de Brenni said.
FULL STORY
Centacare open the doors to new Mount Isa DIGs safe space (The North West Star)