MIDLAND’s Karnany Engagement Hub has received $330,500 from a Lotterywest grant to provide relief for people directly affected by crises or experiencing homelessness.

Karnany Engagement Hub is an open-door service which offers a safe place for clients to share their story.

The latest Lotterywest grant comes on the back of millions given to Indigo Junction earlier in the year to develop their youth housing project and refurbish their women’s shelter, as reported in Indigo Junction receives $5m grant for two major projects.

Latest recorded data shows that Karnany receives 500-600 contacts per month from people seeking support.

Indigo Junction chief executive officer Sharon Gough said the most recent funding had helped Indigo Junction achieve better quality of service in terms of what they could deliver.

“We’re able to spend more time with people,” she said.

“We’ve obviously been able to recruit new staff and provide a more intensive level of service for people accessing both Karnany and Karlup engagement hubs.

“Karlup tends to support families experiencing homelessness and young people, while Karnany, only a few doors down, tends to support more adults and couples.

“People will connect with either of those services and be directed within or under the same roof essentially to the supports and services they need.

“In the last 12 months, we have provided emergency relief assistance to 1834 single people and families.

“Food is probably the most common — that alleviates some of the stress and pressure people are experiencing going day-to-day in survival mode.”

Karnany Engagement Hub manager Krystle Addison, who recently created and organised the soup and paint event reported in Swan’s homelessness rises but services remain hopeful said the increase in rough sleeping numbers was felt by the homelessness services industry.

“In 2022-23 at Indigo Junction, 256 people who were sleeping rough, homeless or at risk of homelessness were provided with support through our outreach and intensive case management programs.

“No one in Australia should be living in poverty or experiencing homelessness and it’s on all of us to make sure we demand our human rights as a reality and not allow any excuses for them not to be upheld.”

Midland MLA Michelle Roberts said the latest funding boost for Karnany was well deserved.

“A quick response in a time of crisis can be life changing,” she said.