Gabrielle Upton med rel — Link2home Phone Service Helps Thousands

Family and Community Services Minister Gabrielle Upton has announced more than 290 people a day are being helped by the NSW Government’s new Link2Home telephone service to tackle homelessness.

More than 45,000 calls have been taken in the first five months of operation from its 24/7 call centre in Liverpool which Ms Upton visited today along with the Member for Menai Melanie Gibbons.

Minister Upton said “The NSW Government’s $4.5 million investment in Link2Home provides a ‘one-stop shop’ for vulnerable people to make it easier for them to access the services they need.

“Link2Home provides information, conducts assessments, as well as makes referrals to homelessness services for vulnerable people across NSW,” Ms Upton said.

Link2Home is part of the NSW Government’s Going Home Staying Home reforms. A total of $515 million will be spent over the next three years to tackle homelessness across the state. This includes $71 million for a number of complementary initiatives including Link2Home.

Member for Menai Melanie Gibbons said “Link2Home brings support and accommodation services together to make it easier for people to get assistance that suits their needs.

“Link2home is part of the NSW Government’s broader strategy of helping people connect with early intervention services so that they don’t become homeless in the first place,” Ms Gibbons said.

“We are wrapping integrated services around those at risk of homelessness, before they are at crisis level, before they are sleeping rough on our streets.

“It is important that we embrace the reality that homelessness is a complex problem. Many people require more than one type of assistance to help them get their lives back on track.”

All 143 new specialist homelessness services announced by the Minister in June are operational, along with a further eight services in inner city Sydney that received restored funding.

Minister Upton added “The Going Home Staying Home reforms have made specialist homelessness services easier to access and deliver a better balance between early intervention, crisis and post-crisis support.”

People who are homeless or who may be at risk of homelessness can get help from the Link2home telephone service by calling 1800 152 152.