A ST ALBANS-based service which provides community health outreach services to homeless and unemployed people has been acquired by another not-for-profit organisation.
On 1 April this year, the Norwood Association came under the banner of Break Thru People Solutions, which operates centres in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, plus Glenroy and Preston in Melbourne’s North.
Before then, the Norwood Association spent 25 years in St Albans, providing outreach services to people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, unemployment poverty and social isolation.
Norwood assisted Brimbank and Melton residents aged between 16 and 64 years old with rehabilitation and recovery practitioners.
A statement from Break Thru People Solutions said they would provide a “diverse array of services for people living with mental illnesses including employment, training and specialist disability, youth, migrant and indigenous services”.
The group’s managing director Ross Lewis said Break Thru had employed previous Norwood staff members and had become responsible for administration of all funding.
“We are pleased that we can offer a range of support to people whilst they are concurrently seeking assistance for their mental illness,” he said.
“This ‘wrap around’ model has been shown to deliver the best outcomes for those living with mental illness.
“Employment provides a person with financial stability, housing, education opportunities, a purpose and valued integration into the life of their local community.”
