An evaluation study done on Wesley’s family crisis unit - an alternative to motel accommodation for families experiencing the immediate and acute crisis of homelessness in the eastern region of Melbourne.

The aim of the family crisis unit is to provide comfortable and family-friendly accommodation to families for a short period of time (initially 13 days), during which time staff work in a strengths-based way with families, encouraging them in their search for secure permanent accommodation.

The family crisis unit is a home-like environment for families, providing each family with two bedrooms, and a shared kitchen, living, laundry and safe backyard play areas with one other family. Two large units provide this accommodation for a maximum of four families at any one time. One unit has a bathroom for each family, while in the other unit the two families share the bathroom. This unit is often provided to one large family, or to a two-parent family, rather than two families. Families contribute to the cost of staying at the family crisis unit by paying rent at a level negotiated with Wesley staff. As far as we know, the family crisis unit is the only service of its type in Victoria.

Wesley has been extremely happy with the service provided to them by the landlord of the property. The family crisis unit housed 64 families, including 82 adults and 122 children in the 18 month period studied here.