With increasing rents and higher rates of unemployment, the Brisbane area has significant problems with providing affordable housing for everyone. For people without family support and who may have significant mental, physical and intellectual issues, some form of homelessness is a reality.
The city can be a dangerous place for the socially isolated, particularly for those with mental and physical issues. They become vulnerable to the drug culture and the violence often incurred from unhappy people in unhappy places. When self confidence, safety and access to better futures is compromised, the powerlessness of the individual becomes entrenched. As a result, these factors create a cycle that ensures the person remains generally away from mainstream society. This can often lead to a sense of hopelessness and depression.
Once the at-risk person is in temporary accommodation, developing a targeted pathway to social inclusion becomes essential for personal development and feelings of social acceptance.
This entails practical strategies that enhances confidence and a person’s ability to communicate and feel comfortable with participating in the community. It could include improving numeracy and literacy, maybe even dress sense, makeup, right use of eating utensils, job interview skills and creating a resumé. Or simply listening to their stories so that they feel that someone cares for them as a person.
Within this psychosocial framework, the worker facilitates the client's expertise. This not only allows participation but also provides an assessment tool for promoting advocacy, self empowerment and appropriate referrals.