Media Release
New Transitional Housing for Women in Recovery
Women recovering from addiction now have access to stable, supported housing with the official opening of Step Out House by NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson MLC. This new initiative provides a crucial housing pathway for graduates of Detour House’s recovery program.
Step Out House offers a safe place for women who have completed the three-month residential alcohol and other drug (AOD) recovery program. Residents can now stay for up to 12 months while working with case managers to secure long-term housing.
A partnership between Homes NSW, Detour House, and Bridge Housing made this project possible. The first four residents have already moved in. One woman shared how the home has changed her life:
“Having the new transitional property has taken added pressure off me at an already stressful time in my life. It’s given me peace of mind and space to work on my recovery and my new life, clean and sober. Thanks Detour House!”
Minister Jackson said the project received $463,716 from round one of the $100 million Homelessness Innovation Fund (HIF).
“The Homelessness Innovation Fund is about bringing fresh ideas forward that transform lives and set this state on a path to ensuring experiences of homelessness are rare, brief, and not repeated.”
“We know when people are given not just a safe play to stay, but are supported with wraparound services, they’re more likely to transition into long-term housing.”
“Step Out House empowers vulnerable women and fills a previously un-met but critical need in our inner-city homelessness services.”
CEO of Detour House, Cindi Petersen, highlighted how Step Out House tackles a major recovery challenge:
“Detour House is excited to be able to offer transitional housing to women who have graduated from our 3-month residential program. We have always faced the issue of exiting some graduates into Temporary Accommodation because we have been unable to resolve their homelessness in 3-months.
“This transitional property allows us to offer women safe accommodation while continuing recovery and receiving support to secure long term housing.”
CEO of Bridge Housing Laurie Leigh praised the initiative:
“Bridge celebrates the life-changing work of Detour House. We are honoured to be their tenancy management partner for this new transitional housing, funded by the Housing Innovation Fund. This home provides stability for graduates on their journey to permanent housing and rebuilding their lives.”
Step Out House is a major step forward in supporting women on their recovery journey, ensuring they have a safe home as they rebuild their futures.
-ends-
About the Homelessness Innovation Fund (HIF)
- The $100 million Homelessness Innovation Fund (HIF) is initially through the Reforming Temporary Accommodation (RTA) and Service Reform and Innovation (SRI) grant programs, with $30 million provisionally allocated for 2024-25.
- The grants help develop and fund new or improved responses to homelessness, with a focus on a person’s experience of homelessness being rare, brief, and not repeated because they have a safe home and the support to keep it.
- The grant programs are open to accredited homelessness services and registered Community Housing Providers (CHPs) or Aboriginal Community Housing Providers (ACHPs), or those on the pathway to achieving accreditation or registration.
- Both grant programs will remain open for applications until 30 April 2025.
- The HIF is a key component of the $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program, which will also build 8400 new homes for public housing, deliver 21,000 new affordable and market homes and upgrade 30,000 social housing properties.
You can read further: New transitional housing for women in recovery | NSW Government