Disability boost

By Casey Neill
HILLS groups have welcomed State Government Budget pledges to improve disability and dental services and combat homelessness.
The government announced $104.8 million for housing and homelessness support including family violence victims and mental health programs.
The figure included $15.9 million for long-term housing and $36.3 million for intervention programs to prevent people becoming homeless.
Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service spokeswoman Anita Burman welcomed the provisions as “a great start.”
She said mental health and a lack of housing were huge issues in the hills.
“What they’re doing is really important,” she said.
“Homelessness is rarely about rooflessness. It’s a result of complex issues.”
But Ms Burman said the cash alone would not reach the root of the problem.
She called on people to lend their neighbours a hand.
“We’ve disconnected as a community,” she said.
“People can cope if they have some support.”
The State Government allocated $86.9 million for disability services in this year’s budget, including $30 million for extra individual support packages, $16.6 million to help young people with disabilities access jobs or further education, and $12.5 million for community service organisations.
Yooralla corporate services general manager Noel Bryant was waiting for specifics but expected the cash would translate to funding for its Ferntree Gully FirstBase program.
The service helps young adults with a disability leaving school make the transition into adulthood.
Early childhood intervention and ongoing support for children and young people with disabilities or developmental delay will receive a $9 million overhaul.
Community services director Kerry Stubbings said the council was waiting for information on how the cash would help Ferntree Gully childhood intervention service Illoura.
Knox Community Health Service acting CEO Anne Parkes was also waiting for details of the $21.1 million dental services boost.
The government said the cash would provide extra dental treatments for pensioners in Knox.