I was just recently placed in a launch housing facility crisis accommodation.
https://www.launchhousing.org.au/
Figured with homelessness/cossie livs out of control some info/insight to the experience might help people get an idea of what to expect, if it's suitable/right for them and have some discussion on how these services can help (or not in many cases)
There is a few locations one in Southbank is huge, there is also a St Kilda facility and a smaller Dandenong facility.
Before coming in I tried to do a bit of research on what people were saying online and mostly just heard about NIMBY folks complaining about the facilities existing near them and unsavoury characters being around and using drugs, screaming, ect.
Which uh….kinda not a great sell of the place.
No real talk from people actually in them.
Now, one thing that did in fact stand out in the orientation was they stressed this is NOT a dry facility and you're allowed to use drugs and alcohol just don't shoot up in front of the children/in the common areas, dispose of needles, you can smoke in your room and around the outdoor areas of the facility.
Like welcome darl, enjoy smoking in your room, stealing and shooting up! Very INTERESTING vibe lol
👁️👄👁️
They are very non moralising of poverty and very queer friendly and understand the role of drug use and coping with homelessness compared to other orgs out there cough salvos
I did ask them as my area was "women only" if that extended to non binary, intersex or trans individuals.
They said it's never come up? Which seems like an odd/unlikely response. But they said they guess if anyone IDs as a women it's all Gucci in the hoochi (or lack thereof) and just errored out asking about NB/gender diverse
Some facilities house couples, family, children. Some are just women, some are mixed gender, one of them even allows pets to be housed with you which is really lovely.
Cost is capped at 35% of income, if on Centrelink they encourage centrepay, and it's based on the BASE pay, not any additional allowances like pharmaceutical allowence, energy suppliment blah blah.
Which if you're on a lower payment is crazy cheap even compared to renting a walk in closet in a crackden.
I was also assigned a case worker that has me for 9 months initially.
So far been super quiet, you do see people outside smoking/substance affected (hell yeah buddy) but generally being respectful and minding their own business.
There is a lot of services, classes, free gym, pool, medical help ECT offered and a big cupboard full of SOD harm min supplies like narcan and whatever.
(No judgement. I love they don't moralise the poor, and like dang bro I wish, who can afford it in this economy 🤌 the most hectic thing I can afford to do is have really low iron and stand up fast/do squats until I go to tv static space)
The place is very beat up and not well maintained/clean.
My windows looking out to a major street and facing other apartment blocks had no curtains as previous tenant ripped them off which is kinda hectic as you can see RIGHT in easily at night, took a photo you can see it just looks right into a car park and set of apartments (´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀)
The loo roll holder was ripped off the wall, vomity looking splodges on the carpet, walls caked with mysterious fluid and fake eyelashes stuck to the walls, cyanobacteria/mould all over the bathroom and shower curtain.
Like compared to max security prison the max security prison was way nicer and cleaner to give you an idea
But hey, you can clean it and when I brought up issues like the lack of curtains/privacy they said they'd make an urgent maintenance request.
Also the bathroom door doesn't close so even going in there to change doesn't give me privacy RIP me I guess ಥ‿ಥ
I am in a mixed gender facility but put in a female only part of the facility kinda segregated off with its own little areas which is nice.
The rooms have a kitchenette with basic appliances like kettle microwave, toaster, fridge and ensuite very similar to prison and psych wards (literally all three use the exact same shower style it fuckin triggers me at this point) but less clean and worse.
Also tv, desk, chair, heater, fan.
If you have questions let me know I'll do my best to answer as best I can.
I'll dump some photos of the place/questionable fluids all over the apartment (mmmmmm floor crust)
And the info booklet
Posted by Plant_Hater
11 Comments
This is great information. It can really help to know what services are actually like before contacting them.
I don’t need this right now, but someone does so thank you
It’s sad knowing people are actively allowed to smoke and shoot up.
Imagine raising a child in that environment. There should be more to protect the venerable.
Not putting someone on life’s edge next to drug users…
Are there any spot checks / check-ins to ensure that the residents are doing fine?
I take it you’ve been to prison, then? If so, it’s fucking rough getting back on your feet.
Thanks for the insight! Launch never called me back.
While escaping family violence a few months ago, I was temporarily placed in short-term crisis accommodation by Safe Steps. After spending a total of 12 hours on hold over 3 days and not getting through, I went directly to Launch Housing Cheltenham office with all the belongings I had with me as they were the only office taking walk-ins.
After two hours of filling forms and going through a risk assessment and intake, I’m informed that they have a shortage of available places and I should get a call from their team in the next two weeks. I then essentially got a ‘good luck’ and never heard from them again. 🤷♀️
They shouldn’t allow people that are going to use drugs and shoot up. What if people have kids? That’s so unsafe for them.
Had a friend working for Launch.
One day he called me at work out of nowhere because he’d been case managing a mutual friend who had (very fucking sadly) been found unresponsive and he had no contact numbers so just had to call mutuals.
Seems like they care though.
There is one in my building, just one apartment in the building, in Elwood. The gov purchased it.
The place was very well kept prior – I went and inspected it when it was for sale. but the single elderly lady in the 2 bedroom apartment with massive yard, has trashed it, she deserves it. She’s a bloody hard neighbour but she has it. And I don’t think she shouldn’t. But tbh it’s almost a family home and i cant help but think she would be fine in a 1 bedroom. I digress.
But she has trashed it and I don’t see how the gov will fix it if she passes to the extent most people would expect. Especially in our building! It’s a lovely building. All the things you highlight she has. She’s even told me that the gov comes in and fixes everything so it doesn’t matter. Hard to watch really.
Wish you could come swap with her!
Soooo what did you do you get into max 👀
Really hoping good things for you OP. Good on you for reaching out to this service and for also sharing your experience that can help others. Hope you find it enjoyable making the space your own (after a good clean-up sesh) and hoping you continue to heal and get back on your feet. You’re doing great 🩷