ACF are here to help those who have fallen on hard times and have no other means of resolving the current situation they are facing. Here are some stories of those we have helped in our community;

• ACF teamed up with AYSA to support a young man who was fleeing an unstable and unsuitable home environment. Collectively, we provided a new phone to allow the young person to be contactable by services to ensure his safety and for him to be able to look for work and housing, a small amount of funds for safe transport to another refuge in Perth, some new clothes, and a contribution towards him gaining his learner’s permit – this embodied our commitment to working in collaboration to get better outcomes. ACF’s contribution totalled $400.

• Young single male who found himself homeless and in crisis after relocating from interstate for personal reasons. This individual suffers mental health issues and has no family support around him, contributing to his inability to support himself and solve the challenges he is facing. PIVOT Support Services provided food, a swag, and referrals to a variety of services, including ACF who filled the gap and funded $1000 to buy tyres for his vehicle. The individual lives in his car and relies on it as his only means of shelter and independence.

• 45-year-old single lady who has no children and suffers from various mental and physical health issues. She is very isolated in our community. Her only source of income is the disability pension. She has taken on a carer role for her 83-year-old father. Her situation become more complex when she suffered an allergic reaction and required an ambulance trip to hospital – the cost of this depleted her meagre savings. The ACF was able to provide financial assistance to replace prescription glasses to allow her to function with day-to-day activities.

• Anglicare WA Housing supported a man in his forties into long term stable housing. He had used all of his funds to cover the ingoing costs of moving leaving him without the means to purchase white goods or furniture. The man was proud that he was able to fund the ingoing costs and Anglicare were equally proud to assist him through the ACF fund as well.

• 82 year old man with health issues including limited mobility. Estranged from family but does have good relationship with GP. Gets some assistance from HACC for food shopping but his house has fallen into a very poor and unhygienic state so HACC staff are unable to enter. ACF paid $600 towards house cleaning costs, along with contribution from Anglicare so that care providers can continue to help. 

• Woman looking to relocate to new home before her ex is released from prison. ACF assisted with removalist costs. $495. Application through Anglicare 

• Elderly indigenous man with mental health issues seeks assistance with food vouchers for a meals on Wheels. Cornerstone application through Great Southern Mental Health Service. ACF paid $400 for 8 weeks of meals.

• Couple who relocated from Vic on promise of work which fell through once arriving in Albany and have been living in their car whilst waiting for housing. ACF assists with crisis accommodation and fuel vouchers. $430. Cornerstone through Pivot.

• Man with brain injury who lives with his disabled son seeks assistance for house clean so that service agencies can provide in-home care. Application through Disability Services. $700

• Relocation costs for 45 year old woman who was in transitional housing and finally managed to secure permanent housing. Was previously homeless after financial, emotional and physical abuse of her ex. Support through Anglicare 

• DV victim wishing to relocate prior to ex being released from prison seeks assistance with moving costs. ACF pays $990. Also supported by Anglicare

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SECONDLY, WE ALSO LOOK TO HELP greater community CAUSES such as the well-being of students from disadvantaged families, BY FINANCIALLY ASSISTING THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD SCHOOL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SWIMMING LESSONS AND SCHOOL CAMPS.

We have supported a number of students from Mount Lockyer Primary School, Spencer Park Primary School, Albany Primary School and Mount Barker Community College to be able to participate in swimming lessons, which for many disadvantaged families this is the only opportunity they may get to learn to swim.

This funding can make a big difference to children, not only in terms of their safety in and around water but also in being able to enjoy the many recreational and health benefits that are associated with being able to swim.

We have also provided funding for Year 6 students to go on school camp with their peers.

Each school runs an annual week long camp for their Year 6 students. This normally involves travel to a destination outside of Albany for a period of up to a week. Schools see this opportunity as having a number of key benefits, but overall this program is an important part of preparing children for their transition into high school. For many children this is often their first real time where they are separated from their families and are required to be more independent and self-reliant in managing their day to day needs. Given the travel, catering and other associated costs this can be a major funding commitment for each child and their family.

Here is a heartwarming response from some of the recipients from Mount Barker Community College;

Some of our Aboriginal families can be under quite a bit of strain financially due to having numerous family members staying in the one house for extended periods of time. One of our families had been able to put enough money together to pay for one child’s swimming lessons but could not make payment for another. The relief of the grandfather’s face when he was told that the College had funds to cover the other child was priceless. To have the funds to ensure all students can access swimming lessons and the Year 6 Camp is incredible. A big thank you to everyone involved with the Albany Community Foundation, as the support provided today makes such a difference into the future for our students.

The following are second round recipients, who we continue to support.

• Homeless woman who has left abusive relationship. ACF assisted her in late 2017 with payment for a storage unit whilst she obtained transitional housing. She is now in secure accommodation but seeks assistance with payment of insurance excess following unfortunate vehicle collision with a kangaroo which has left her without a vehicle to attend appointments with support agencies for mental health services. Referred by Anglicare. $500 

• Homeless man achieving success in his tertiary studies against the odds. ACF assisted him in late 2017 with minor dental and optical costs. He has now been offered accommodation in the new Student Housing facility in Stirling Terrace and sought assistance to pay security bond, plus basic household items such as linen for his move. Referred by Dept of Human Services. $936