Brisbane Homeless - Queensland, Australia

[Dominic]

Regional focus for Brisbane on homelessness and homeless discussion related to Brisbane - Queensland, Australia. Are you homeless or involved with homelessness in Brisbane Australia?

[Punter]

Here is a listing of food services around the Brisbane area.

It is current I shall endeavor to update as changes are brought to my attention.

FOOD VANS.

Daily Services.
The Ecumunical Coffee Brigrade van provides tea, coffee and sandwiches at the following locations 7 days a week.

6.30am Ivory St Fortitude Valley
7.00am Wickam Tce Spring Hill. Opposite SoHo Hotel.
7.20am Kurilpa Park. Riverside Drive
7.40am Botanical Gardens. At entrance to Riverstage.

Eddie's Van Big breakfast BBQ Mon- Fri. 7.00AM

Mon - Botanical Gardens. At entrance to Riverstage.
Tue- Wickham Tce Spring Hill Opp SoHo Hotel
Wed - Botanical Gardens Riverstage.
Thur - Kurilipa Park West End. Riverside Drive
Fri- Wickham Tce Spring Hill. opp Soho Hotel.

Other Vans.
Monday.
1.00PM Drug Arm health services. Hot Drinks Avon Hostel. Spring Hill
7.00PM Vital Connection Soup Van. Vegetarian Meals. Emma Miller Pl Roma St
6.30PM Loaves and Fishes. Home cooked meals, pies, drinks, Carpark Quarry St Spring Hill Opposite Pindari.
7.15PM Loaves and fishes As above. Pauls factory end of Kurilpa Park
8.00PM-10.00PM Rosies. Hot drinks. Emma Miller Pl Roma St.

Tuesday.
6.45am Nudgee Bigger Breakfast. BBQ Ivory St Fortitude Valley.
6.45am Drug Arm Health Services. Hot Drinks Ivory St Fortitude Valley.
10.30am St Paul's Church St Pauls Terrace Spring Hill. Morning Tea followed by a light lunch around 11.00am
6.30PM Eddie's Van BBQ, Hot Drinks Emma Miller Place Roma St.
7.30PM Mama Rene's Van. Hot meal, coffee, biscuits. Carpark opposite Pindari Men's Hostel.
7.30PM Dave's Coffee Van. Sandwiches Hot Drinks Kent St New Farm.

Wednesday.
5.30PM Marist Brothers. BBQ Kurilipa Park
6.30PM Loaves and Fishes. Home cooked meals, pies, drinks, Carpark Quarry St Spring Hill Opposite Pindari.
7.15PM Loaves and Fishes. As above Pauls factory end of Kurilpa Park
7.30PM Street Access Van. Hot Drinks. Neighbourhood Centre New Farm
8.00PM-10.00PM Rosies Hot Drinks Emma Miller Place Roma St

Thursday.
7.30PM. Mama Rene's Van. Hot meal, coffee, biscuits. Carpark opposite Pindari Men's Hostel.
7.30PM-8.30PM Mosh Pit Drug Arm Van Hot Drinks Wickham Tce Spring Hill
9.00PM Drug Arm Health Services. Hot Drinks Cnr Kent & Brunswick St Fortitude Valley.

Friday.
9.30AM Drug Arm Health Services Hot Drinks Kurlipa Park Riverside Drive.
11.30AM Drug Arm Health Services. Hot Drinks Musgrave Park Sth Brisbane.
7.00PM Valley Street Outreach. BBQ Wickham Tce opp SoHO Hotel.
6.30PM Loaves and Fishes. Pies, Drinks, cakes and coffee. Carpark Quarry St Spring Hill Opposite Pindari.
7.15PM Loaves and Fishes as above Paul's factory end of Kurilpa Park
8.00PM-10.00PM Emma Miller Place Roma St.

Saturday
6.00PM Valley St Outreach BBQ Ivory St Fortitude Valley (opp Fire station)
7.00PM Vital Connection Soup Van. Vegetarian Meals. Emma Miller Place. Roma St
8.00PM-10.00PM Rosies Hot Drinks Wickham Tce Spring Hill.

Sunday.
7.00PM Vital Connection Soup Van. Vegetarian Meals Emma Miller Place Roma St.

OTHER SERVICES.

HART 4000. Wesley House 1/140 Ann St, Brisbane, 4000.
HART stands for Homelessness Assessment Referral Team. They are an outpost of the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre and are there to help people find suitable accomodation. The officers will help with everything from filling out Public Housing forms to helping finding other assisstance such as food vouchers etc. They are extremely friendly and there is coffee and tea available. You must be at the office by 9.00am Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri to make an appointment for accomodation referrral etc. Outside of this you may be able to use the phone, make a coffee etc depending on demand for services.

139 Club. 505 Brunswick St Fortitude Valley provides a drop in Centre open from 8.00AM- 4.00PM Monday to Friday. There is free hot drinks all day and free morning and afternoon tea at 10.00AM and 2.00PM There is also free soup at 12.00pm. Hot Lunch is provided free on Saturday and Sunday at 1.00PM. Hot showers and washing machines and dryers also available.

Ozcare Cordelia St Sth Brisbane. Meals available for $1. 7.00am 12.00pm 5.00pm. Free tea at 10.00Am and 3.00PM. Hot showers and washing machine, dryers available.

The Drug Arm van ususally has a St Lukes nurse attend the van on Mon - Fri at the times listed above. A centrelink officer is also available Mon-Wed at the times above.

Red Cross Cafe. Under 25's.
Red cross provide meals, hot drinks for under 25's on Tuesday and Thursday from 7PM to 9PM at the Town Hall Building. Adelaide St.

Street Access Van. The Street Access van drives around every night Mon-Fri for West End to Fortitude Valley. It has hot drinks and stops at various locations, hostels and parks etc.

JPET. 20 Baxter St Fortitude Valley
Under 21's drop in centre operates Mon - Thurs 9.00AM-11.30AM
Fri 5.30PM-8.30PM

River City Community Church. 166 Sydney St New Farm.
Drop in Centre 7.00AM - 12.00PM Mon-Wed, Fri
Free Dinner 1st Monday of every month 6.00PM

Housing Outreach Program. 141 Sydney St New Farm.
10.00am-2.30pm Every Wednesday.
This is a weekly drop in day that provides free lunch and a host of activities. You can chill out and read a book or the papers or play a variety of games such as cards, carpet bowls, jigsaws etc. Its a great place with wonderful, friendly people to chat to. You can also access their washing machine and dryer and a centrelink officer visits before lunch. A bus runs from the Riverstage at the botanical gardens after the morning food vans at around 8.30am. This bus takes you to the centre and then returns people to the city around 1.30pm after lunch.

The above services, times, locations are subject to change however I will keep them updated as much as possible.

Please email or PM me with any other service providers to add to the list. These service providers, volunteers do a great job providing food, drinks, medical help and most importantly a friendly smile and ear.

[Konstantìn]

Niiice, well organised, well laid out, and a fair amount of info.

Regards,
Konstantìn

[katerinalotus]

(...he did great didn't he???!!!)
k

[Punter]

I have updated the Brisbane city services list. There are a couple of new services and some times have changed. I'll keep it updated as I become aware of any other changes.

I heard some great news last night that at least 1 person has used to the list to find a hot meal. Brisbane City Council is currently surveying the food van users about services available. When one of the participants was asked how he found the food van he responded that he googled homeless and found the forum and the Brisbane link with the list. That's great to hear.

[Punter]

I just received an email regarding a service I was previously unaware of. The details are listed below and are pretty self explanitary Sounds like a great thing they have going as I know single women accomodation is pretty limited here in Brissie. Please contact Amanda or Rachel at HART4000 PH 30040100 for any further info. Also most service providers who deal with homeless women should be aware of the program and referral process.

Re: Emergency Accommodation for Single Women Thursday – Sunday Night (8pm -8am)

Background
A number of inner city churches have come together to develop a “Crash Bed” model to assist women who are ‘rough sleeping’. The model is based on similar activities of CANA services in Sydney. Through the Brisbane City Council Homelessness Innovations Funding the churches are able to fund a pilot ‘Crash Bed’ project for 13 weeks, commencing Thursday 13th October.

The referral point is HART 4000.

The Crash beds pilot will operate Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from 8pm to 8am.

The facilities to be offered will be a bed in a church hall, tea and coffee facilities and the opportunity to participate in ongoing support via HART

Each church will provide volunteers to oversee the safety of the women.

Criteria for referral Women will be eligible if they:
1.Are over 18 years of age
2.Are unaccompanied by a partner or children
3.Are homeless

Process for referral
1.Phone call to HART 4000 P: 3004 0100 between 9am to 5pm, Thursday and Friday,
2.Brief intake process by HART 4000 staff
3.Details of the location are given to the woman being referred
4.Woman’s details are forwarded to the relevant location
5.Woman can present at the location at 7:45pm and stay until 8am the following morning
6.Weekend referrals will need to occur by Friday 5pm

Follow up
1.At 8am on Fridays and Mondays HART 4000 staff will present to the current location upon request
2.Woman has the option to address any urgent issues with the assistance of HART 4000 staff
3.Option to continue to have ongoing support/case management

Obviously this is a pilot program and it is a great start. My immediate thoughts would be what chance is there of extending the program to cater for more nights ie 7 nights a week and women and children. I'll see what info I can find out regarding the program and post more at a later date.

Dominic, I'd be interested in your comments regarding the service in Sydney CANA, I think it was. Do you have any knowledge of the program and its success etc. Thanks

[Dominic]

Re the crash out space a few churches are involved on alternate nights. Its very basic as in a space on the floor with a thin mattress but it's safe with volleys there all night. It is really great in that the barrier to entry for the sydney service is very low.

That is only one of the things Cana does. To describe Cana, put it this way: I aim for our service to be more like Cana and our people especially me to be more like the crew at Cana... Sr. Anne is the closest you will ever come to meeting a modern day Mary.

Can you add Micah (sth brisbane), Brisbane Youth Service (church st valley) and the mens hostel next to St Mary's (sth brisbane).

That list is excellent. I use to help a former streetie named Wheels to compile and distribute a similar thing in printed format. If you want to do the same I'll arrange access to free photocopying for you or fund it myself.

[Punter]

Dominc, I'll send you a PM re the listings. But thanks for the info on CANA. HART 4000 are doing wonderful things here in Brisbane together with Southside homeless services (which is MICAH) and Brisbane City Council.

[Punter]

Here is a listing of accomodation services around the Brisbane area.

It is current I shall endeavor to update as changes are brought to my attention.

Accommodation options.

Ozcare Homeless mens shelter 48 Peel St Sth Brisbane.
Entrance is actually on Cordelia St, just across the road from the Sth Brisbane Centrelink Office. The facility provides emergency accomodation for single men aged 18+ in open dorm rooms for $10 a night including 3 meals a day. If you are seeking a bed you need to show up at 4.00pm when all residents rebook their beds for the night. After existing residents have rebooked any left over beds are allocated on first come first serve basis. The shelter provides resident access from 6.00PM to 7.00AM only. Outside of those times you can sit outside but are not allowed inside the shelter except for lunch at 12.00pm and Dinner at 5.00PM. Residents rebook their beds daily at 4.00PM and are allocated different beds every night. Curfew of 9.00PM exists. No tolerance policy to drugs and alcohol. Storage lockers are provided for residents bags etc but can only be accessed for a few hours in the morning and at night. Ph (07) 3033 4333

Pindari Homeless Mens Shelter. 28 Quarry St Spring Hill
The facility provides emergency accomodation for single men aged 18 +. For $16 a night residents will have their own small room and breakfast and Dinner is provided. Residents must vacate sleeping levels between 8.300AM and 12.30PM. At all other times residents have access to TV Room, bedrooms and games room. Residents keep the same room and will have their own room key after paying a $10 key deposit. Curfew of 10.00PM exists. No tolerance policy to drugs and alcohol. Ph (07) 3832 1491

Pindari Homeless Womens Shelter. 28 Quarry St Spring Hill
Not sure cost etc will attempt to find out more info but I would assume similar to the mens hostel as above.

HART 4000. Wesley House 1/140 Ann St, Brisbane, 4000.
HART stands for Homelessness Assessment Referral Team. They are an outpost of the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre and are there to help people find suitable accomodation. The officers will help with everything from filling out Public Housing forms to helping finding other assisstance such as food vouchers etc. There is also an upto date boarding house and other accomodation list available. They are extremely friendly and there is coffee and tea available. You must be at the office by 9.00am Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri to make an appointment for accomodation referrral etc. Outside of this you may be able to use the phone, make a coffee etc depending on demand for services.

Micah Inner City Services. 62 - 64 Peel St Sth Brisbane.
Assists people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with accomodation and other service referrals etc. For Information and Assessments call Adele 07 3036 4444

Brisbane Youth Service 14 Church St Fortitude Valley Ph (07) 3252 3750


Brisbane Youth Service is a multidisciplinary youth service that works with homeless young people, aged 12 to 25 years, in inner Brisbane.
Services provided.

A youth health team specialising in health promotion, resource development, and support around sexual health, hepatitis C, drug and alcohol, and other youth health issues
A needle and syringe program
Accommodation, income support, activities, and court support
Material aid via a drop-in space (operates Monday to Friday 12.30pm - 4.30pm)
A street outreach program to the inner city
An arts program
A sexual health training project for youth workers and allied health professionals in the southern and central zone


The above services, locations are subject to change however I will keep them updated as much as possible.

Please email or PM me with any other service providers to add to the list.

[wendy]

Thank you for the wonderful list Punter. I printed some copies to give out (hopefully along with a Brisbane City Council inner city map which are free if you can find them in the public libraries). After googling "Vital Connection Soup Vans" which you mentioned, I found this page which also has a list. There's probably a lot of overlap, and the layout is not as clear, but anyway:
http://www.vitalconnection-soupkitch...rviceguide.htm
Hope that helps.

[Punter]

Hi Wendy and welcome to the forums. The list you have referred to at vital connections is basically what the Brisbane City Council issues to the service providers. A guy called wheels prepares it and I have been in contact with him to help him keep it as upto date and accurate as possible.

Great idea to hand out the services lists. I think most of the vans are now carrying copies from the website to hand out when required. We are extremely lucky to have all the services we do here in Brissie so the more people who get access the better.

[Punter]

Further to Rose's post

http://forums.homeless.org.au/showpo...0&postcount=20

Rosanne is giving the same presentation here in Brisbane.

The details are as follows however please note the address change to The Greek Club 29 - 31 Edmonstone St Sth Brisbane.

http://www.qcoss.org.au/Article.aspx?type=event&id=1047

Sounds like it would be well worth attending.

[Punter]

Just thought I'd put a note in about the street vans here in Brissie. Due to complaints, incidents at the wickham Park night locations most night vans have relocated to Emma Miller Place, Roma St (Near Roma St Station). I've updated the list on the first page of this thread and there is a more detailed list available at

http://www.vitalconnection-soupkitch...rviceguide.htm

but I notice it is currently a bit jumbled and confusing relating to times. I do have a Comprehensive current list which is clear that I can email or PM to anyone interested or alternatively ask at service providers such as HART 4000 who should be able to print you off a copy.

The Wickham Park issues are being investigated and I'll post any new outcomes as I am made aware of them.

[Punter]

I am pleased to provide a positive update in reference to the funding issues of the Homeless Persons Legal Clinic (HPLC) here in Brissie. The state government has finally provided funding through to July 2007. Unfortunately the funding is not ongoing but it will allow the HPLC to continue its services till July next year at least. The current co ordinator of the HPLC has taken leave.....Have a great trip Mon....and a replacement is being sourced. Contact details remain the same as per this link.

http://www.qpilch.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=7#57

I urge anyone with legal issues to contact the HPLC for assisstance. If they can't help they will at least point you in the right direction.

[Punter]

The Brisbane City Council is presenting Homeless Connect Day at the Town Hall, King George Square on November 1 from 10am - 3pm. Homeless connect is an iniative that has been successfully run in around 32 U.S. cities in the past few years.

The day is about providing a kind of one stop shop for homeless people to connect with service providers all in one pleasant environment. Services that will be represented include housing, medical, dental, legal etc. As well as providing access to these services the day is also about a little luxury for the clients of the service providers. There will be food and beverages, clothing, gift packs etc provided. Everything is free of charge and is provided by volunteers from the service providers and other community organisations.

I believe transport is being organised from hostels and other service provider hubs to ensure everyone can attend. It sounds like a great day so for further information contact the Brisbane City Council or your local service providers. I'm sure the guys at HART 4000, 1/140 Ann St Brisbane PH 30040100 would be only to happy to provide details to anyone interested. It's a great opportunity so get along for your chance to connect to services and others in homeless community.

If any service providers are interested in being involved with the day please contact the BCC or volunteer Queensland http://www.volunteeringqueensland.org.au or phone 3002 7600

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has attended similar events in the past be it here in Australia or in the U.S.

[Dominic]

Thanks for the update, the homeless connect day sounds like an interesting concept, let us know how it goes.

[jenjen]

Hi, I'm interested in volunteering to help homeless people but I have no idea on how to go about it?? Will the fact that I'm a teenage girl prevent me from volunteering?
thanks

[Dominic]

Hi, welcome to the forums. 18 is usally the age minimum at most places. Though some soup kitchens will take on younger people. I guess you are in Brisbane so there I'd try st vincent de paul (call the state office) or salvation army (call the division headquarters for the city).

[Dominic]

Did anyone else see the 7.30 report tonight on ABC? There was a great story done by homeless person's legal service and a homeless guy who was arrested with excessive force for something stupid and caught on camera. I'm so impressed with the guy that he went on the 7.30 report and told his story and good coverage of the issue by homeless person's legal service. As I've said, media coverage is the language politicians understand and they did an excellent job. Chalk one up for homeless people in Brisbane.

[Rose]

I watched it, yes. Like Dominic, I was impressed with the coverage of the event. Hopefully it will result in some of those responsible for making these laws realising that the current laws relating to public space and police powers in Queensland can lead to serious inequities when applied to homeless people, whose use of public space is so much more intense than it is for other members of the community.

While the incident was very unforunate, especially for its victim, the spectacle of a dignified senior citizen being set upon by a number of police officers must have an effect on any viewer - hopefully including those viewers who have the power to lighten the rules in order to allow people a fair go - the politicians.