Community Connection and Belonging Project
The project was conceived in partnership between Annerley Baptist Church, Community Plus+ (who run Yeronga Community Centre and West End Community House) and Brisbane City Council after noticing an increase in homelessness in Annerley, Yeronga and surrounding suburbs in the city of Brisbane, Australia.
The project is aimed at supporting people experiencing insecure housing with instrumental needs (our practical needs in life such as housing, food, assistance with services etc.) and our affective needs (our emotional need to connect, belong, be respected and have purpose and agency in life).
We see this work as long term and working in equal partnership with a person through formal supports (such as services) and informal supports (community members who wish to connect more deeply with people and their community) as you would build friendships with your neighbours.
It is hoped that some of the relationships that are forged organically will evolve and continue - working in this way allows people to ‘self-right’ and find their own way through the challenges of life, gently supported in the background by others.