Financial Worries & Homelessness

Financial worries

It is normal to feel worried, anxious or down when times are hard.
Job insecurity, redundancy, debt and financial problems can all cause emotional distress. 

Support Services and Financial Aid

jQuery(document).ready(function($) { var delay = 100; setTimeout(function() { $('.elementor-tab-title').removeClass('elementor-active'); $('.elementor-tab-content').css('display', 'none'); }, delay); });

Emergency Relief supports and referrals include:
Supermarket cards and food parcels; medical and pharmacy assistance; financial counselling and tax help; relationship counselling; business advice and mentoring; drug and alcohol counselling; mental health and wellbeing supports. 
Call in for a chat, your privacy will be respected.
Cost: Free
Location: 33 Tunbridge Street, Margaret River.
Hours: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 1 pm.
Phone: 9757 3200
Email: admin@mrcc.com.au
Facebook: @margaretrivercommunitycentre
Visit website

Each Friday between 10:30 am and 12 pm they welcome members of the community to access a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, dry good staples, dairy and frozen meat. 
All are welcome and we have a suggested donation for our food bags, however our motto is “Give what you can, receive what you need”. We can cater for dietary requirements and preferences, please just chat to one of our friendly volunteers who will be more than happy to help. 
Cost: By donation $10 per bag or what you can donate. 
Hours: Every Friday from 10.30 am to 12 pm 
Visit website

Free or low cost healthy take away to feed yourself and your family. 
Cost: $7 card or cash
Address: 33 Tunbridge Street, Margaret River.
Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 5 pm to 7 pm except public holidays.

They can help you to make assessments of financial situations, provide information and options to address financial problems, assist with resolutions if necessary, advocate and negotiate with creditors, make referrals to other useful services in the community, provide information about government assistance, support clients to develop their own budget, relay relevant information about consumer credit and bankruptcy.
Cost: Free
Hours: 9 am to 1 pm, Thursdays or Fridays by appointment
Address: 33 Tunbridge Street, Margaret River
Phone:
9720 9200

You are eligible for free Tax Help if you income is around $60,000 or less for the income year and you didn’t:  Work as a contractor (contract cleaner, Taxi or uber driver); run a business, including as a sole trader; have a partnership or trust matters; sell shares or an investment property; own a rental property; have capital gains tax; receive royalties; receive distributions from a trust; receive foreign income.
Cost: Free
Hours: 9 am to 1 pm, Mondays and Tuesdays by appointment from 1 August to 30 October each year.
Address: 33 Tunbridge Street, Margaret River
Phone: 9757 3200
Email: bookings@mrcc.com.au

Crisis payment for extreme circumstances – family and domestic violence. 
Contact the Department of Human Services within 7 days of a change in residence/circumstances due to family and domestic violence to find out if you are eligible for extra financial support in this transition.
Phone: 136 150
Visit website

Individual consumer experiencing issues in the areas of credit, banking and finance.  
Cost: Free phone legal advice  
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm 
Visit website  

Rural West provide a free, confidential, mobile, independent financial counselling service to regional small businesses and all primary production enterprises in WA, who are navigating their way through difficult and turbulent times.   
Cost: Free 
Phone: 1800 612 004
Email: Dean.bavich@ruralwest.com.au
Visit website

For small business owners that are struggling, there is free and confidential mental health support developed by Beyond Blue.
Cost: Free
Hours: Monday to Thursday,  8.30 am to 8 pm AEST 
Phone:  1300 945 301
Email: newaccess.smallbusiness@rfq.com.au
Visit website

Professional financial counsellors provide free and confidential advice.
Cost: Free 
Hours: Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 4.30 pm 
Phone: 1800 007 007 
Chat:
Live Chat Monday to Friday 9 am to 8 pm 
Visit website

Housing insecurity

A home is more than just four walls and a roof. It’s a place where you can feel safe and secure. Your home can also make you feel more connected to your community. Access to good quality, affordable and safe housing is essential for mental and emotional wellbeing.

Below is a list of services and programs that may help.

Housing supports

The purpose of this service is to support people residing in private and public tenancies who are experiencing difficulties in maintaining their tenancy and/or at risk of homelessness in the Capes Region (Busselton/ Margaret River Corridor).   
Cost: Free 
Phone:9729 9000 

Do you need support to remain living in your home independently?  Staying in Place offers local and customised support for older residents in our community to live independently at home. 
The Staying in Place Coordinator is happy to discuss the services with you. 
Address: 33 Tunbridge Street, Margaret River 
Phone: 0494 040 256 
Email: stayinginplace@mrcc.com.au 
Visit website 

For when you are escaping domestic violence and need help or if you are homeless.
Phone: 1800 199 008
Text: 0477 13 11 14 
Chat: Online
Visit website 

Street Law is a free outreach legal service for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness in Western Australia. 
Cost: Free 
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 am to 2 pm  
Phone: 1800 752 992
Visit website

South west crisis accommodation, support and advocacy service for women and their children experiencing family violence. 
Cost: Free 
Hours: 24/7 
Phone:9752 2785 
Mobile outreach service: 0434 473 496
Email: Tuarthouseoutreach@communicare.org.au 
Facebook: @communicare.au 
Visit website

Programs include Public Housing, Bond Assistance Loan Scheme, Private Rental Aboriginal Assistance Loan.
Phone: 0897525600

Rent Assistance payments.
Visit website

The City of Busselton provides community housing for eligible seniors.
Phone: 08 9781 0381
Visit website

A housing advocacy group in Margaret River.
Visit website