Uniting WA is thrilled to have opened the doors to its transformed Tranby Engagement Hub (Tranby), Perth’s first co-designed and purpose-built crisis intervention space for people experiencing homelessness.
Minister for Community Services, Simone McGurk, officially launched the newly renovated Tranby, made possible by a $1.7m grant from Lotterywest, at an event in June.
“Uniting WA is at the coalface of supporting rough sleepers,” said Minister Simone McGurk.
“This is a vital engagement and referral service for people who are in crisis and sleeping rough.”
In a WA first, the space was carefully designed in collaboration with people with lived experience of homelessness. As well as increasing the capacity for Tranby to respond to the hundreds of requests for help it receives each week, the new facility was purpose-built to support an active referral and engagement model.
It all starts with: “How can we help you?” It’s a simple question, but one that marks the beginning of a journey that sees the team at Uniting WA provide ongoing, customised support that empowers people to develop the strength, skills and resilience they need to face their challenges and achieve positive change in their lives.
“The new Tranby can truly meet the needs of the people it supports by facilitating intentional and purposeful engagement with every person who accesses the service,” said Amanda Hunt, CEO of Uniting WA.
“Most importantly – it is a place of connection where wraparound supports are tailored to what each individual needs to enable their way out of homelessness.”
The new facility offers a full suite of amenities including meals, showers, internet, laundry and medical support, as well as access to trauma, drug and alcohol counselling services, ducation and training. Multi-purpose gathering and meeting spaces of different sizes facilitate greater privacy and safety for separate cohorts of people, and a commercial kitchen will create opportunities for capacity building and hospitality training to support pathways out of homelessness.
Tranby forms part of an integrated community sector response to homelessness, specialising in meeting the needs of a complex cohort of rough sleepers in the Perth CBD. This includes people experiencing long-term or chronic homelessness, many of whom present with significant issues that make it difficult to access other services.
There are more than 900 people sleeping rough in the Perth CBD, and more than 9 000 people experiencing homelessness across WA. You can help support people on their journey out of homelessness by donating at unitingwa.org.au or by mail to: Fundraising, Uniting WA, GPO Box B74, Perth WA 6838.
Jessica Brodie-Hall
Top image: L-R: Gayle Mitchell, Uniting WA Practice Lead – Transitioning from Homelessness; Simone McGurk, Minister for Community Services; Amanda Hunt, Uniting WA CEO; and Mike Rowe, Department of Communities Director General, at the launch of Uniting WA’s transformed Tranby Engagement Hub.
