About to become homeless in Canberra. What resources are there?

I hope the bloke in the photo in the check shirt really is homeless cause his image is sure associated with homelessness now.

Although I suspect this is a troll I took the bait anyway. I called 2 types of services that I know are always looking for staff ( Disability support workers at Sharing Places and Food service dude/dudette at Maccas) and both were very keen to have me send in a resume and didn’t seem to care when I lied about my over qualifications. It seems that it isnt really that hard to find work if you are genuine.

LiamMarsh said :

there is a hare krishna ashram on quick st. in ainslie, just down the road from ainslie village.

Do the Hare Krishna’s do food for the public in Canberra? 1 of the best $5-$10 vego feeds available- and cooked with lurve..

Yeah, good luck with your special needs child and the dramas with ACT housing. I hope you get tehm sorted out.

Good luck streetwise, how that things turn out for you.

there is a hare krishna ashram on quick st. in ainslie, just down the road from ainslie village. I might be wrong but I believe accom,. there is $50 p/w, I think you may have to do a few housekeeping tasks with that price but it is probably worth a look if you need accom., and also a bit better than ainslie village. You might have to put up with some hare krishna in your ear about how its wrong to kill anaimals, but less wrong to kill vegetables (reference to a funny conversation I had with one). Havelock housing assoc. do crisis accomodation, the waiting list is approximately 2 weeks I think. hope some of this helps, good luck and keep us posted.

try the national zoo and aquarium

streetwise said :

blah, blah … not to put up with infantile and immature insults like some of those here.

But it has taught you to respond in kind, I see.

streetwise said :

Thanks everyone for the helpful suggestions. They are appreciated.

For those who are doubters, oh well, explanations are superfluous. Friends don’t need them, and enemies don’t belive them. Besides, who are you in my world that I’d give a damn. Really though, I’m sure these posts get tagged with IP addresses and that any moderator can tell you my service provider. For all the paranid people posting, get a life. I asked for information, not your warped opinion, go back to your spot on Beauty and the Geek if your mind is that detached from reality.

CapitalK said :

sorry missed out the words “describe themselves” – ie most women don’t generally describe themselves as clean cut

Hey, so I have a problem with facial hair. Quite a few women do. My dad used to say it is because I’m a direct descendant of Zena. I think it’s just because my parents were Greek. And proud of it. Yes I wear a suit and tie. I’ve never been a girly girl. I could not be bothered getting liposuction and a boob job. I run an hour a day and am happy with my weight. My hairsuitism may be one of the reasons why I have no success in retail jobs. They want a blonde bimbo with curves. Not curves out, curves in. And certinly not with a hair lip. And before some of you jump on that, I look respectable, and do make a genuine and sucessful affort to be presentable. Not all women came out of Vanity Fair or Cleo magazine.

I’m not using that as an excuse though. I’m still hunting for jobs, still maintaining my apperance.

Now, by all means, please keep the good information flowing. But if you want to be nasty, don’t be surprised if I fight back. 12 years with a crazy husband has taught me not to put up with infantile and immature insults like some of those here.

Seriously give up. You have been outed as a fake.

[Ed. FYI, If you think this is fake, vote the story down, or report comments as a breach of Riot’s T&C. An editor has already determined this has merit]

As most people have said, apply for anything you can. Any money is better than no money. Maccas even! I used to work at Pizza Hut and Dominos, and unless you have some huge issue then they should hire you as a delivery driver. Apply for domino’s online, they called me the next day. Pizza places are ALWAYS looking for drivers. Moneys money. Cant be picky. Sure beats living on the street.Good luck. 🙂

Thanks everyone for the helpful suggestions. They are appreciated.

For those who are doubters, oh well, explanations are superfluous. Friends don’t need them, and enemies don’t belive them. Besides, who are you in my world that I’d give a damn. Really though, I’m sure these posts get tagged with IP addresses and that any moderator can tell you my service provider. For all the paranid people posting, get a life. I asked for information, not your warped opinion, go back to your spot on Beauty and the Geek if your mind is that detached from reality.

CapitalK said :

sorry missed out the words “describe themselves” – ie most women don’t generally describe themselves as clean cut

Hey, so I have a problem with facial hair. Quite a few women do. My dad used to say it is because I’m a direct descendant of Zena. I think it’s just because my parents were Greek. And proud of it. Yes I wear a suit and tie. I’ve never been a girly girl. I could not be bothered getting liposuction and a boob job. I run an hour a day and am happy with my weight. My hairsuitism may be one of the reasons why I have no success in retail jobs. They want a blonde bimbo with curves. Not curves out, curves in. And certinly not with a hair lip. And before some of you jump on that, I look respectable, and do make a genuine and sucessful affort to be presentable. Not all women came out of Vanity Fair or Cleo magazine.

I’m not using that as an excuse though. I’m still hunting for jobs, still maintaining my apperance.

Now, by all means, please keep the good information flowing. But if you want to be nasty, don’t be surprised if I fight back. 12 years with a crazy husband has taught me not to put up with infantile and immature insults like some of those here.

ugh I get it now.

Two posts from first time posters.

Both are down on their luck.

One is a young single mother with two kids, the other is a single non drinking, non smoking, non drug using university educated person with no kids.

They both ask for help from the RA community.

One gets very helpful suggestion on where to get a job, assistance etc, whilst the other gets some help served with a massive dollop of judgement and abuse.

We have been sucked in big time.

Uni bulletin boards will be chockers with ads for share accommodation about now – as some students will soon be packing up and going home for the Christmas holidays, their soon-to-be ex-housemates will be looking to fill the gaps.

streetwise said :

Eby said :

Would you mind (sorry if I just missed it) telling us whether you’re male or female; and approximately how old you are? This information would influence which services you could access.

Ahh, third time lucky at figuring out how to post a reply.

37, female.

MrPC said :

http://forums.homeless.org.au/showthread.php?t=4205 might be a worthwhile place to ask questions.

Thank you Mr PC.
That is a very useful link. Lots of useful information there. I may sign up to that site.
I do have a car, actully a small van. I’ve slept in it more than once. I’m just lucky I have no kids to look after too.

3rd time lucky ? steer clear of jobs involving computers

this is a g-up right?

and a counselling service for other support, although the website doesn’t mention morals…

http://menscentre.com.au/programs/counselling/

Canberra Men’s Centre doesn’t have short term accommodation, but it does have an outreach service which supports men who are homeless or at risk of homelessness:

http://menscentre.com.au/programs/massoutreach/

I’m sorry but clearly you are being too fussy in regards to getting a job..

As someone said.. DUMB DOWN your resume, print out 100 odd copies and start walking around every shopping centre in Canberra.

Westfield Belconnen have probably 20-50 stores with Help Wanted signs, and DFO / Brand Depot has about 50% of their store DESPERATE for staff.

Approach businesses in your “field” whatever that may be and ask if there are any jobs going.

This does sound like some form of Uni assignment, because if you were in that dire straits you wouldn’t be online asking for advice you would be pounding the pavement with your 100+ resumes in hand applying for any and every job left right and centre.

Rawhide Kid No 2 said :

Troll?? Doing research for Uni’ ?

yep good call.

Oh and if you are seeking definite information and not rumour how about going straight to the source instead of seeking information in this forum…

You’re weird.

Why not try giving St George bank @ Jamison your resume’. They are after reliable, honest hard working people.

37 and female and you wear a suit and tie to interviews? I find that confusing, not the suit, just the tie part.

I thought you were a dude at first.

Troll?? Doing research for Uni’ ?

sorry missed out the words “describe themselves” – ie most women don’t generally describe themselves as clean cut

Coles Gungahlin are looking for a variety of people.
I think you really need to look at your resume like stonedwookie said – if you are applying for a lower level job that does not require Uni degree – take that out. If you are getting the interviews but not the jobs, consider the way you present yourself at interivew – answers and mannerisms etc – not just wearing a nice suit. Good luck
On a side – I can’t help but think this post is a bit dodgy – you said ” I wear a suit and tie to interviews, am clean cut” and then later that you are a female. Wearing a tie?? and most women don’t generally as “clean cut”

Samaritan house in Hackett is very good, and caters to men of all ages.

If you are young enough, Canberra Youth Refuge in Downer is one many of my clients use.

Minosa House in Ainslie village has been mentioned, and there is also “The Lodge” at the same location.

Richmond Fellowship have some access to sheltered / Supported accommodation.

Canberra Men’s Centre also have some short term accommodation.

Let us kno0w if you need help accessing any of these.

(Though as it’s my day off, I may not be around all day.)

go out to brand depot or DFO, every third shop has a help wanted siogn in the window

The Simple Savings website simplesavings.com.au is a good resource for moral support, common sense advice and and a good community. Costs a little bit to join though.

For jobs, I’ve noticed that a coffee shop in Jamieson mall called Guru Coffee has a semi-permanent sign on their door saying baristas wanted. It looks like it would be hard work and it’s probably low pay, and you’d need to convince talk them into training you, but might be worth a shot?

What is your line of work? Jobs come up at my workplace quite regularly. Ofice work.

If, and only if your vehicle is reliable, consider Goulburn or Cooma. You can commute when a job comes up and rent is far cheaper. (Goulburn rentals are not plentiful though – there’s some competition, though not as much as Canberra). In Goulburn, you could get a 1br apartment for $125 pw in Goulburn, walking distance to shops, library, and doctors who will actually see you same or next day. Plus you’ll have access to the Southern NSW social support services – not great but better than Canberra. It’s only an hour’s drive and if you prefer the Canberra lifestyle you could always move back when you get a job. You may also be able to pick up a retail or office job there.

I don’t know how homeless people would use a petrol voucher (apart from sniff the stuff) as not many homeless people would have cars.

Head to the coast if your going to do the fully homeless thing, better weather there.

Go to the Welfare Rights and Legal Centre,Havelock House, Gould St Turner, as a starting point, or call 1800 445 665 they can connect you with heaps of support services.

Take any job on offer, then start looking for the job you want. Anyone can get a job as a security guard, MIL advertise constantly, pays livable and you should be able to get a job in the Museum or Library or similar.

Good luck

Streetwise Try the refuge’s for accommadation, and Wollies at Dickson always want people for work, ring up and look in the white pages for information on both, good luck

Dont give up. There are plenty of places around Canberra looking for people. I know that in Kingston there were a bunch of bars, cafes and restaurants still looking for people last time I was there (about three weeks ago admittedly – but those signs had been there a while too).

Think hard about whether there is anything that you can do, some skill or talent that you can market that people need. It mightn’t be your dream career, but there’s plenty of people looking for domestic help, cleaning, gardening etc.

If you have somewhere to live now, don’t let go of it – you wont be getting too many landlords willing to lease to you if you’re down and out. Look at getting some people in to share to help cover the rent and bills – even consider spending a big part of what you have left to pay rent in advance so you know you’ve got somewhere.

If you don’t have to stay in Canberra, move to where there’s work.

Good luck.

I would recommend visiting the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. They are one of the key referral points in the community sector, and have an excellent understanding of what is available in Canberra (across all those issues you mentioned – housing, food etc). If you have a chat to them they will be able to most appropriately (rather than us here on riotact) link you in with support services.

Their weblink is: http://www.citizensadvice.org.au/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

Or their shopfront is on the ground floor at the Griffin Centre on Genge St in Civic (sort of under Dendy; across the road from Blue Ginger. You can just drop-in to talk to someone during business hours.

Good luck!

You mentioned you have applied for temp jobs, if this was by sending in an application via email I would recommend contacting recruitment agencies and asking to make an appointment to register for work.

Even better, get dressed up in your suit and walk in and ask for an appointment. Most of the larger ‘bums on seats’ agencies have a policy to register everyone that walks in (I used to work at Julia Ross and know this was their policy). As some agencies get so many automatic applications via email, it’s much easier to sell your skills in person.

Also try looking on http://www.mycareer.com.au, all of the ads listed in the Canberra Times are also duplicated on that site. If you don’t want to spend money on the paper but can get free internet at the library this may save some $$.

I really hope everything works out for you, good luck.

Eby said :

Would you mind (sorry if I just missed it) telling us whether you’re male or female; and approximately how old you are? This information would influence which services you could access.

Ahh, third time lucky at figuring out how to post a reply.

37, female.

MrPC said :

http://forums.homeless.org.au/showthread.php?t=4205 might be a worthwhile place to ask questions.

Thank you Mr PC.
That is a very useful link. Lots of useful information there. I may sign up to that site.
I do have a car, actully a small van. I’ve slept in it more than once. I’m just lucky I have no kids to look after too.

If you received a termination payment and had savings in the bank why are you preparing for such an extreme outcome as being homeless? Why haven’t you moved into a share-house (or organised for house-mates to move into your house) already?

I don’t believe you when you say you can’t find a job. Sure, you may not be able to find the job you want…that is a different statement…but a job, any old job just to keep the money coming in…Canberra has casual jobs coming out it’s ar$e.

I understand what it is like not having family around (particularly in the moral support area) as I am here without my family also…but don’t you have any friends who would put you up for a few weeks at least? Or…maybe you should go home to your family? Doesn’t sound like there’s much worth staying in Canberra for.

Your post comes across as a little dramatic to me, however I hope you sort things out.

What about friends here in Canberra? You may be able to ask them about crashing on their couch?

Also sorry if this is insensitive (as you haven’t said why you don’t have family here) but is there anything really keeping you in Canberra? If not could you possibly move to where your family live? Unless you have had a major falling out with them, I’m sure that they would help you get back on your feet.

There’s a laundoamat at Jamison too, across the road from the Jamison Centre, near the Vinnies (?) charity shop.

You can read newspapers for free at libraries or Maccas.

In The Canberra Times most days (especially Wednesdays and Saturdays) they are advertising for people to deliver the Canberra Chronicle – may need a car to pick them up but you could walk/ride a bike to deliver them (don’t ride on the road or wear lycra whatever you do, and watch out for buses…).

Maybe you could deliver pizzas (use their car, not worth it using yours) or work at Maccas/other fast food place.

Can you play a musical instrument or juggle or do something else entertaining – if so you could try busking.

What about selling The Big Issue magazine. No idea who you would contact about that though.

I would go for sales jobs too. Various clothes shops have signs in the windows looking for staff. Some restaurants do too. Say that you worked in a shop in high school and want casual hours as you are writing a book (or something). If you say you are still looking for a professional job they won’t think you’ll stay around.

There are also signs springing up at local shops for people willing to do ‘garden work, no skills except enthusiasm’ etc. You could try something like that.

Also – go back to centrelink once you have no money in the bank – they will reassess your priority for payments.

There is a laundrimat at Ainslie shops – it is an expensive way to wash though. Pools have showers.

tip if your going for simple jobs dumb down your resume.
they dont like hiring over qualified people.
Belconnen Laundromat
68 Josephson St Belconnen ACT
6251 1556

dvaey said :

While not quite on topic, my girlfriend recently applied for 4 jobs, and was offered 3. All sales jobs, one at a car parts place, two at woolworths and one at coles. She was amazed, because in her experience jobs were difficult to find, and she expected it would take months to find something, rather than the 6 days it took for 3 offers to come in. She has no experience in sales, no uni degree, but also importantly, she wasnt setting her goals too high, and was happy enough to settle for what came along.

Now, back on topic, I think youd find a lot of charities such as St Vincent de Paul and the Salvos would be a good place to get assistance. They can provide food hampers, as well as vouchers from time-to-time for essentials such as clothing or groceries. Also, have you considered moving into group accomodation, where by sharing your expenses, youre not having to pay 100% of your home’s rates, power, etc costs? Ask around some friends and see if anyone has or knows of any cheap rooms available. Depending on your current housing situation, you may find youre able to get leniency on your rent, or may be able to negotiate some arrangement to ensure you keep a roof over your head until you get back on your feet.

You make an excellent point. Times are tough, apply for absolutely anything to get the $$ to keep you going and a roof over your head. While it might not be your dream job, it will at least allow you to apply for jobs and present well enough for jobs your are fully qualified for.

Most chairty organisations can point you in the right direction and may also be able to provide emergency accommodation. But public and emergency housing are very stretched and have probably got worse in the past 12 months, you’d probably end up on a very long list to get a place.

Ainslie Village’s homelessness services are only for males.
http://www.centacare-canberra.org/web.php?sec=30

http://vandwellers.org/ is a fantastic resource, assuming you have a vehicle or have sufficient savings to purchase one. It’s one step up from sleeping rough. It’s also written by a Canberran.

If you know what to look for during your job interviews, you’ll find numerous open showers in office buildings.

There’s a laundromat in Dickson near the motor registry.

http://forums.homeless.org.au/showthread.php?t=4205 might be a worthwhile place to ask questions.

Go talk to the people at St John’s Care (St John’s Anglican Church in Reid) & also email me via my profile, please.

The place up at Ainslie Village is called Minosa House – it is a short term Mens refuge – could fit your needs. The rest of Ainslie village you need to apply for.

As Dvaey said – you may need to settle for any job you can get whether it is in your chosen field or not for the time being until you can get yourself settled.

Who knows you might like the career change. You could try being a barrista – apparently the ones in Canberra are crap – bit of witty repatoir and a half decent coffee and you’re made.

Would you mind (sorry if I just missed it) telling us whether you’re male or female; and approximately how old you are? This information would influence which services you could access.

While not quite on topic, my girlfriend recently applied for 4 jobs, and was offered 3. All sales jobs, one at a car parts place, two at woolworths and one at coles. She was amazed, because in her experience jobs were difficult to find, and she expected it would take months to find something, rather than the 6 days it took for 3 offers to come in. She has no experience in sales, no uni degree, but also importantly, she wasnt setting her goals too high, and was happy enough to settle for what came along.

Now, back on topic, I think youd find a lot of charities such as St Vincent de Paul and the Salvos would be a good place to get assistance. They can provide food hampers, as well as vouchers from time-to-time for essentials such as clothing or groceries. Also, have you considered moving into group accomodation, where by sharing your expenses, youre not having to pay 100% of your home’s rates, power, etc costs? Ask around some friends and see if anyone has or knows of any cheap rooms available. Depending on your current housing situation, you may find youre able to get leniency on your rent, or may be able to negotiate some arrangement to ensure you keep a roof over your head until you get back on your feet.