Communities save lives

We want to give you an update on where HOML is at the moment, where we are moving and what changes have been made. It has been a busy time for us while we build a sustainable structure to continue our work.

Community-house

The original idea of “a community peer lead house focused on shared learning and care practices within the trans and gender diverse community” is still a primary goal for us. However, after researching the costs (financial and legal) we decided that it would be better to prioritise the foundations of the community infrastructure before the house is started. The services that the house would (and still could) offer can be offered sooner without the need for a central (expensive) location. For example, services can be run in the form of workshops, sharing groups, de-centralized housing in existing share-houses, peer support advocacy through hospital or inpatient services and support training. These support formats are all ways of building strength in our community infrastructure in preparation for running a community-house.

Peer supports

Our other primary concern is training and resourcing peer supports within the community so that peers can care for and guide trans* & gender diverse people through crisis. This includes peer-advocacy in hospital, aftercare, lateral-service provision (such as housing, counselling, food) and ongoing community support.

Preliminary HOML projects

While discussions around the structure and formation of HOML have been ongoing, we have been able to begin offering some services, such as:

  • Advocacy for those accessing crisis and mental health support. This has included meeting with directors of The Melbourne Clinic to ensure they improve their services for trans* and gender diverse people

  • Crisis support sharing group

  • Peer support for those leaving recovery and support facilities

  • Peer advocacy through hospitalisation and inpatient care

  • Referral to existing services

  • ASIST training for current peer supports

  • One member has now begun a month-long training course in Intentional Peer Support

  • Applying for funding and support through Trans Victoria’s peer support program

One of the best preventatives to mental health risk is a strong community.

HOML aims to provide safe conditions for shared learning around being in hardship and will be committed to providing space for people in need.