St Kilda Gatehouse
St Kilda Gatehouse represents a safe space for many who work on the streets. It provides a warm, homely environment, with professional counselling and crisis management staff. Assisting individuals break away from street sex work starts with genuine engagement, building trust, providing crisis care and the opportunity to form positive and meaningful relationships.
Those attempting to leave street sex work are often trapped by homelessness and drug addiction. They are given help to navigate services and systems essential to breaking out of these traps. Training is provided to create small business opportunities and develop new skills, which enable them to step away from urban poverty.
How St Kilda Gatehouse helps urban poverty?
St Kilda Gatehouse represents a safe space for many who work on the streets. It provides a warm, homely environment, with professional counselling, and crisis management staff. Assisting individuals break away from street sex work starts with genuine engagement, building trust, providing crisis care and the opportunity to form positive and meaningful relationships.
Those attempting to leave street sex work are often trapped by homelessness and drug addiction. Members of staff assist individuals to navigate the services and systems essential to breaking out of these traps. Assistance is provided by setting up appointments, implementing advocacy, assisting with transport, encouraging individuals and networking with other agencies to introduce individuals to key service providers are all
Staff also work alongside those who wish to pursue interests, skill development and unfulfilled dreams. Encouragement, coaching and practical support is provided and networks mobilised to provide in-kind support. Through this support we see individuals engage in training, create small business opportunities and develop new skills, which in turn will enable to step away from urban poverty.
Success Story
Over a year ago we met Lee who was homeless, had a gripping heroin addiction and was abused and abducted whilst working on the street. Through intense support by our staff we have seen Lee and her partner conquer drug addiction, leave sex work, source housing and reunite with their children. Each day we are open thirty or more individuals spend time at Gatehouse, treating it as their own space, engaging with staff, receiving emergency aid, counselling, and support connecting with the community.
