Accommodation
and support
Located in the former army barracks in Mount Martha, Fusion’s Housing Support Program provides accommodation and support for young people experiencing homelessness between the ages of fifteen and twenty-one.
How we work
Eight beds are available on-site as supported accommodation, where young people can stay for up to three months, with a review of stay conducted at the end of the second month.
We have a strong community approach, with live-in mentors providing a sense of stability and a family like environment for young people within the program. Our team of community volunteers bring a range of skills, programs and support to further assist the young people in their development.
Community and purpose
Fusion operates on the philosophy that all people have a fundamental need for community and purpose. To this end, we seek to connect residents to networks in the community and engage them with their own internal narrative and a wider sense of belonging and achievement.
Casework support
n 1985, two young people experiencing homelessness were sleeping in a dumpster in Melbourne. The boys awoke as they were being tipped into a compactor unit truck. Their screams were heard around Melbourne. The driver was only able to pull one boy to safety, the other died under the rubbish. They were 15 years old.
This tragedy rocked the Fusion team. Knowing that young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness would often visit the drop-in centre, the team were aware that these boys could well have been among the young people they were working with.
The community
The onsite community consists of young people and adult lead tenants who live alongside residents as positive role models. Each young person is allocated a Caseworker who collaborates with them to create and implement a plan to reach the young person’s individual goals. Life skills training is a large part of our program, with clients expected to be a part of dinner cooking and cleaning rosters, a weekly cleaning night, a monthly outdoor working bee, and the development of skills such as budgeting, washing clothes, and even reading and writing.
How we do it
Apart from the Case Support Program which is partially funded, all services offered by Fusion are operated without the aid of government funding. This is achieved through our dedicated volunteers and the support of our local community, which is integral to the services we offer and the care we provide.
By providing early interventions, Fusion seeks to address the triggers of homelessness and provide interventions that significantly impact the quality of young people’s lives.
Outreach and support
Fusion Mornington Peninsula also provides outreach support to young people who are at risk of becoming homeless. This includes:
- Providing support for young people in THM (transitional) properties including the 2-bedroom unit offered by our program.
- Outreach support to young people who are at risk of becoming homeless. This includes helping people maintain private rental, shared accommodation or supporting young people to stay or return home with parents.
- Interim response to young people who are on prioritisation lists and waiting on other housing options in the homelessness sector
- Access to HEF to assist in maintaining a tenancy
Our partners
