What do we provide?  

  As a specialist homeless service, we endeavour to provide ‘wrap around’ support, care and accommodation options to young people aged 15-22 years and their families within a holistic and therapeutic compassionate framework.

Taldumande aims to:

• Offer services which enhance family relationships and assist in the prevention of youth homelessness
• Respond to the changing needs of young people and their families in crisis or at risk in the local community
• Provide quality; short and medium term accommodation for youth, intensive case management and support, aftercare, outreach and early intervention support services to families
• Embrace the principles of non-discrimination, compassion, diversity and acceptance

Who can access our services?

Young people or families with youth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and who

• are aged 15-22 years
• have significant connections to the wider northern or central city areas of Sydney

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OUR PROGRAMS

Residential Program- 24 hour staffing and support for young people aged 15-18 years

An emergency and short-term assessment accommodation service with up to 6 months stay for 5 residents, providing a range of intensive supports aimed at meeting the individual young person’s needs.

Support provided:

• Case management, emotional support, living skill development, social and communication skills development, educational and employment assistance, financial support and purchase of specialist services, recreational activities, advocacy, family and relationship support, referrals, exit planning and aftercare support.

Fees:

$45- per week board (subject to change) for young people in receipt of independent incomes
Negotiable fees for payment by families where young people are not in receipt of an income

Emmett House- semi independent and subsidised for young people aged 16-18 years

A transitional shared accommodation option assisting in moving towards independent living, for 4 young people with up to a 12 months period of stay.
Intensive worker support is provided to assist with individual resident needs and a Caretaker on site provides adult mentoring and emergency contact.

Support provided:

• Case management, emotional support, living skill development, social and communication skills development, educational and employment assistance, financial support and purchase of specialist services, recreational activities, advocacy, family and relationship support, referrals, exit planning and aftercare support.
• Grocery and utilities costs

Fees:

$80- per week board (subject to change) for young people in receipt of independent incomes
Negotiable fees for payment by families where young people are not in receipt of an income

Independent Program (4 single units) – for young people aged 17-22 years

Taldumande provides support to tenants in partnership with North Shore Community Housing (NSCH), to young people who experience difficulties in sharing and who require individual support and subsidised housing to transition into independent living within the community.

Supports provided:

• Case management, emotional support, living skill development, social and communication skills development, educational and employment assistance, financial support and purchase of specialist services, recreational activities, advocacy, family and relationship support, referrals, exit planning and aftercare support.

Fees:

Rental as set by North Shore Community Housing

• Young person must be in receipt of an independent income and eligible for public housing
• Responsible for all living costs

Aftercare Program

Provides continued support for an agreed period of time (up to 6 months) after a young person exits our accommodation. Maintaining contact with their case worker assists with stability and continuity, to enable a young person to transition into their new accommodation.

Supports provided:

• Case management, emotional support, living skill development, social and communication skills development, educational and employment assistance, financial support and purchase of specialist services, recreational activities, advocacy, family and relationship support and referrals.

Fees:       Nil

Youth and Family Program

An early intervention service providing direct support to young people and their families, where challenging issues within the family place a young person homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The program aims to assist in rebuilding family relationships by acknowledging the strengths of all family members and work towards preventing a young person from becoming homeless.

Supports provided:

• Practical and emotional support to assist parents and families to build on their strengths
  Support available from office base or by visiting the family home both
• Referral and advocacy to other relevant agencies and services

Fees:       Nil

Outreach Program – for young people aged 15-22 years

Support for young people who are seeking assistance in maintaining or moving to stable accommodation.

Supports provided:

• Case management, emotional support, educational and employment assistance, financial support and purchase of specialist services, advocacy, family and relationship support, and referrals.

Fees:     Nil

Brokerage Program (financial assistance) and Project Passion Grants

Financial assistance and grants are available for young people aged 15-21 years supported by Taldumande.

WHO CAN SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM OUR SERVICES?

You can refer to us if you:

• Are homeless or at risk of homelessness and aged 15-22 years old
• Have connections to the northern or central areas of Sydney through family, education or employment.
• Are committed to participating in constructive day time activities such as, education, employment, personal development, building relationships with family and other approved activities.
  
• Are willing to share with other young people OR your independent but find it difficult to live in shared housing
  
• Have an independent income (for the housing program)
  
• Are a parent, family member or significant person caring for a young person who is at risk and seeking information or family support

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WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR REFERRAL TO OUR PROGRAMS?

Step 1:   Telephone interview

A young person can be referred by family, another service or themselves, however support workers must speak with the young person themselves.

A telephone conversation with a case worker:

• Who will collect personal information and assess if our services will suit what is needed and if vacancies exists. (to meet our funding obligations information is collected confidentially and used for reporting)
• If no vacancy exists and another service is needed, the case worker will assist with information and referring to other services
• If a vacancy exists and the young person / family is interested in working with Taldumande, an interview will be arranged at our office within 1 week
• For young people referring to our accommodation, background checks and verification of information will be made to the contacts given
• Emergency accommodation at the Residential Program can be arranged the same day

Step 2:   Interview at our office

The interview is held with two of our support workers who collect further information and will discuss in more detail what services and supports are available, including working within our guidelines and expectations.

The young person / family will have the opportunity to decide if our services will meet their needs and also discuss any questions they might have. A young person can also bring along a support person.

Young people successful in referring for accommodation at;

1. Residential Program: a moving in day and time will be given as soon as possible (up to 1 week process)
2. Emmett House: Step 3- Dinner Interview with other residents (up to 1 week process)
3. Independent Units: Interview and signing of lease with North Shore Community Housing is arranged as soon as possible, where a moving in date will be provided on receipt of rent.

            (payment of 2 weeks rent in advance and bond will be required, up to 2 week process)

Step 3: Emmett House Dinner Interview with other residents

This provides an opportunity for young people to meet with each other at the house before sharing together.

The support worker assists in the process and will provide the questions young people can ask of each other, much the same as what occurs when applying for private shared accommodation.

Young people residing at the house are asked for feedback the next day and if any issues arose they would like to address.
The young person applying for the vacancy also speaks with the support worker to give their final decision on whether they would like to move in and if any issues of concern arose from meeting the current residents.

The support worker will make the decision and if successful;

• The young person will be given a move in day and time
  (payment of board and bond is required, up to 1 week process)

If unsuccessful, the young person will be offered assistance via our Outreach Program and with referrals to other services.

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