The solution to homelessness is clear and well evidenced – a home provides safety and stability with which to rebuild life. Affordable housing and the right support to get life back on track will end homelessness.
A number of services are funded by the NSW State government to provide accommodation and support to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
DV West Blue Mountains provides crisis refuge accommodation and support to women and children experiencing domestic and family violence.
Website: dvwest.org.au
Phone: 02 4732 2318Platform Youth Services Youth Crisis Support: Food and Accommodation; and Personal and Family support for people aged 12 – 25.
Website: platformys.org.au
Phone: 02 4760 0800Thrive Family Support Services provides tenancy, housing & homelessness support (in partnership with Mission Australia) to Blue Mountains families with children aged 16 years or under. Thrive also provides referral & advice and practical assistance of emergency food cards, fresh donated food, personal care items, etc. (dependent on availability) through our drop-in service.
Website: thriveservices.org.au
Phone: 02 4782 1555Wentworth Community Housing Housing and Homelessness Service: Supports single adults or couples without accompanying children to find a home and to connect with health, income and other supports. Assistance is provided with Social Housing applications, with finding private rentals and several homes are available for up to 12 months. Wentworth is continuing their full service during the pandemic, including at the Penrith office and visiting people who are sleeping rough.
Website: wentworth.org.au
Phone: 02 4777 8000.
Other Services
Many church groups, charities, and local community organisations operate volunteer services that provide meals, showers and other assistance for people who are living in poverty, including people who are homeless.
Church based, charities and local community organisations
Lower Mountains
Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre (weekdays)
- Free Fresh Food: available to anyone who drops in
- Food: parcels – pre packed
- Food: vouchers: Coles/Woolworths
- Vouchers: for chemist and clothing
- Financial assistance Telstra, water, electricity and gas bills
- No interest loans
- Bushfire recovery
Belong Blue Mountains Lower Mountains Neighbourhood Centre (Drop in Tuesday to Friday 9:30am to 3:30pm)
- Food Hampers
- Information and referral
- Free wifi
- Space to sit and have a cuppa
- Free Community access to computers
Gateway Family Services (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
- Food vouchers
- IGA pantry items (packaged and processed Food:, bread and vegetables)
- Vouchers for utility bills (prefer telephone call before coming)
Springwood Neighbourhood Centre (Monday to Thursday 10am-1pm)
- ‘Food: cupboard’ non perishable Food: available
- Emergency Food: parcels available
Platform (young people)
- Assertive Outreach
- Toiletries
- Non perishable Food: items available
- Warm clothes
Mid Mountains
Belong Blue Mountains Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre (Drop in Tuesday to Friday 9:30am to 3:30pm)
- Food: Hampers
- Information and referral
- Free wifi
- Space to sit and have a cuppa
- Free Community access to computers
- Showers
Platform (young people)
- Assertive Outreach
- Toiletries
- Non perishable Food: items available
- Warm clothes
Upper Mountains
Earth Recovery Australia (partners with the Uniting Church) at Junction 142
- laundry and bathroom facilities available for homeless people
- food parcels and frozen meals
- free clothing, toiletries, Blankets, Sleeping Bags and other essential items for homeless patrons.
Salvation Army
- Financial assistance
- More substantial Food: hampers
Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre (opening hours are Tuesday to Friday, 9.30am-12.30pm. available on the phone every week day during business hours. Phone: 0411 546 284)
- Food available
- vouchers: for Food:, firewood and petrol.
- technical help with phones, tablets, laptops etc.
- free Wifi and computer use during opening hours
Thrive Services (opening drop in Monday Wednesdays and Fridays 10am-4pm) (Best to call first)
- Utilities assistance (water, gas, electricity, Telstra)
- Food: vouchers:
- Limited non perishable emergency Food: and toiletries
Platform (young people)
- Assertive Outreach
- Toiletries
- Non perishable Food: items available
- Warm clothes
Belong Blue Mountains Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre (Drop in Monday to Friday 9:30am to 3:30pm)
- Food: Hampers
- Information and referral
- Free wifi
- Space to sit and have a cuppa
St Hildas Church _ Anglicare (Tuesday and Thursday 10am-1pm)
- Food and financial assistance available
Blue Mountains Women’s Health and Resource Centre
- Counselling
- Health Services; and
- Support in establishing a home for women escaping Domestic Violence.
Wentworth Falls Community Hub (Open every second Friday 9am -11.30am)
- Coffee shop – free morning tea
- Free bread and emergency food
- Anglicare Food Van 9.30am – 10.30am; and
- Opshop – clothing & household goods (every Friday 9am -1pm)
Services Calendar
Key
Vouchers | Financial Assistance, vouchers: for Food:, utilities, firewood, pharmacy. |
---|---|
Showers / laundry | Shower and Laundry facilities available |
Clothing | Free clothing available |
Food | Food: Hampers, Frozen Meals, Pantry items, non-perishable Food: items |
Code | Details |
---|---|
BANC | Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre Gardiner Cres, Blackheath NSW 2785 (02) 4787 7770 Available on the phone weekdays during business hours Tuesday to Friday, 9.30am-12.30pm |
GFS | Gateway Family Services (please call first) 72 Old Bathurst Rd, Blaxland NSW 2774 (02) 4720 6500 or 1300 316 746 (local call cost) Tuesday and Friday 9:30am-4pm |
HILDA | St Hildas Church, Anglicare 68 Katoomba Street, Katoomba, NSW 2780 (02) 4782 9318 Tuesday and Thursdays 10am-1pm |
J142 | Earth Recovery Australia at Junction 142 142 Katoomba Street, Katoomba, NSW 2780 0468 375 266 (Food: Rescue) 0403 493 027 (Shower & Laundry) Wednesday to Friday 10am-4pm 11am - 1pm food assistance 10am - 3pm showering and laundry Saturday 10am - 4pm clothing, sleeping bags, blankets and essential items |
KNC | Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre 6-10 Station Street, Katoomba NSW 2780 (02) 4782 1117 Weekdays 9am-1pm |
LMNC | Lower Mountains Neighbourhood Centre 33 Hope St, Blaxland NSW 2774 (02) 4739 1164 Friday 9am-1pm |
MMNC | Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre 9 New Street, Lawson NSW 2783 (02) 4759 2592 Thursday 9am-1pm |
Salvos | Salvation Army Katoomba 33-35 Waratah Street Katoomba, NSW 2780 (02) 4782 5124 |
SNC | Springwood Neighbourhood Centre Ground level of Blue Mountains Theatre & Community Hub 104-108 Macquarie Road, Springwood NSW 2777 (02) 4751 3033 Monday – Thursday 10am-1pm |
Thrive | Thrive Family Services (Best to call first) 2 Station Street Katoomba, NSW 2780 (02) 4782 1555 Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays 10am-4pm |
WNC | Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre 62 White Cross Rd, Winmalee NSW 2777 (02) 4754 4050 Monday to Thursday 8:30am-4pm Friday 8:30am-1pm |
WFC | Wentworth Falls Community Hub 17 Armstrong Street Wentworth Falls 0421 600 395 every second Friday 9am-11.30am |
Lower Mountains
AM
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Food: WNC and SNC | Food: WNC, GFS and SNC | Food: WNC and SNC | Food: WNC, GFS and SNC | Food: WNC and LMNC | ||
$ vouchers: WNC and LMNC* | $ vouchers: WNC GFS and LMNC* | $ vouchers: WNC and LMNC* | $ vouchers: WNC GFS and LMNC* | |||
Clothing: WNC | Clothing: WNC | Clothing: WNC | Clothing: WNC |
PM
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Food: WNC | Food: WNC, GFS | Food: WNC | Food: WNC | |||
$ vouchers: WNC and LMNC* | $ vouchers: WNC GFS and LMNC* | $ vouchers: WNC and LMNC* | $ vouchers: WNC GFS and LMNC* | |||
Clothing: WNC | Clothing: WNC | Clothing: WNC | Clothing: WNC |
*Telephone service only. Please call for assistance
** Sleeping bags, blankets, toiletries and other essential items also available (10am-4pm at Junction 142)
Mid Mountains
AM
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Food: MMNC | ||||||
Showers: MMNC | ||||||
$ vouchers: MMNC |
*Telephone service only. Please call for assistance
** Sleeping bags, blankets, toiletries and other essential items also available (10am-4pm at Junction 142)
Upper Mountains
AM
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Food: Thrive & WFC | Food: BANC & WFC | Food: BANC, J142 & WFC | Food: BANC, J142 & WFC | Food: BANC, J142 & WFC | ||
$ vouchers: Thrive and KNC | $ vouchers: HILDA, BANC and KNC | $ vouchers: BANC and KNC | $ vouchers: HILDA, BANC and KNC | $ vouchers: BANC and KNC | ||
Clothing: **J142 | Clothing: **J142 | Clothing: **J142 & WFC | Clothing: **J142 | |||
Showers and Laundry: J142 | Showers and Laundry: J142 | Showers and Laundry: J142 |
PM
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Food: Salvos and Thrive | Food: Salvos And J142 | Food: Salvos And J142 | Food: Salvos And J142 | |||
$ vouchers: Thrive | ||||||
Clothing: **J142 | Clothing: **J142 | Clothing: **J142 | Clothing: **J142 | |||
Showers and Laundry: J142 | Showers and Laundry: J142 | Showers and Laundry: J142 |
*Telephone service only. Please call for assistance
** Sleeping bags, blankets, toiletries and other essential items also available (10am-4pm at Junction 142)