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From Disabled World St Mary's House of Welcome - Fitzroy Victoria By St Mary's House of Welcome
Premier John Brumby today unveiled the new-look St Mary’s House of Welcome Day Centre following its $4.6 million refurbishment. Mr Brumby said St Mary’s House of Welcome was an important place for many people in the Fitzroy community to access support services as they re-establish themselves. “St Mary’s helps more than 6000 Victorians each year, many of whom have been homeless, and who live in nearby public and other affordable housing,” Mr Brumby said. “The refurbished facility will help St Mary’s to help some of Victoria’s most disadvantaged local people. “We believe no Victorian should be left behind, which is why the Government has invested in this project and this organisation as it continues to help so many people with vital, immediate needs such as meals, primary healthcare and training.” The redevelopment included adding space for education and training facilities, a health clinic and community centre and improvements to the dining room and to disability access. Mr Brumby said the Victorian Government was delighted to work with the Rudd Government to provide housing and services to people in need. “This has been demonstrated by the $1.5 billion Victoria will receive from the Commonwealth's Nation Building and Jobs Plan,” he said. “This $1.5 billion initiative will build approximately 5000 homes across Victoria – with 75 per cent to be completed by 2010.” Mr Brumby visited the centre today with Housing Minister and Member for Richmond Richard Wynne and Community Development Minister Peter Batchelor. Mr Wynne said that sustaining a home was about more than just having a roof over your head and that’s what St Mary’s is all about. “St Mary’s offer access to a range of services that help people normalise their lives, including long-term support and social interaction and mental health and social services,” Mr Wynne said. The Victorian Government is providing $865,000, with the Commonwealth contributing $2.5 million and St Mary’s House of Welcome $632,000 through community fundraising, $328,000 through philanthropic contributions and $250,000 from its own resources. Mr Batchelor said the support St Mary’s had generated reflected the value placed upon them by the community and the effective way they worked with partners to tackle disadvantage. “St Mary’s works for the community, with the community and as part of the community, which is exactly the kind of approach the Government is keen to support through our $ 1 billion A Fairer Victoria plan, our blueprint to address social disadvantage,” Mr Batchelor said. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disabled World (www.disabled-world.com) provides a large range of worldwide health and disability information. Coming Events related to health and disability can be posted at http://disabilityevents.disabled-world.com Disabled World also operates a worldwide Disability Community at http://community.disabled-world.com © Copyright 2009 - Disabled World |