A look into Salvos response to homelessness during coronavirus

Foster House crisis accommodation in Sydney is The Salvation Army's response to homelessness for men, providing advocacy and support to men from all walks of life.

Will is one of the caseworkers in the Foster House team and says that while stable accommodation is their main goal, the service also provides intervention support, including access to psychiatric services, health checks, a gym, barbershop and art classes.

Foster House actively works to restore dignity and build living skills to help get these men back on their feet. While COVID-19 has caused some anxiety among clients, the move into serviced apartments to protect them during the pandemic has created an opportunity for them to build on their independence, demonstrating the importance of stable accommodation in helping to break the cycle of homelessness.

Rob doesn’t know where he’d be without the team at Foster House. Estranged from his family, including his young son, and couch surfing all around Australia, he says the care he received has been above and beyond. Providing him with crisis accommodation, meals and casework, Foster House workers were also able to acquire Rob’s driver’s licence and birth certificate.

With the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in Rob being moved into temporary serviced apartments he has also found an opportunity to work on his independence and strive to get better and stay better for the sake of his son.