Jon Park, the client services manager for YES Youth and Family Services, said the formation of the Homeward Alliance had seen a “dramatic shift” in the way homeless services were provided.

The new model, launched in March, is essentially a one-stop shop at The Hub in Macauley Street, where services work together, share resources and respond quickly to stop people being “bounced around” the system.

Incorporating five services – Vinnies, Homes Out West, Woomera Aboriginal Corporation, VERTO Tenants Advice and YES, Mr Park said the aim was to stop people falling through the cracks and help break the cycle of homelessness.

While YES provides crisis and temporary accommodation, the focus is also on early intervention, long-term housing solutions and help for people with complex needs , according to Mr Park.

“Before the NSW government reform of services last year, the system was geared to crisis, which is very resource intensive,”he said.

“Now we look to help people when they are under housing stress  –  due to job loss, family breakdown or violence or mental health issues for example –  before they hit crisis.

“Some people’s issues can be resolved with ‘low support’, like rent assistance or liaising with a landlord to prevent eviction. It’s a stitch in time to stop people entering the system.”

On any night 1 in 200 people in Australia are homeless and The Hub currently sees 70 to 80 people a month.

“We are not turning people away,” Mr Park said.

If there’s one message he and YES chief executive Di Glover want to get out into the community, it’s urging people to come forward early to get help. They know many people are often only one pay packet away from the threat of homelessness.

Both agree rental stress is increasing with housing affordability “going through the roof” and rental availability limited partly due to factors such as the freeway project and two universities.

That’s where the alliance comes in, with its partners scouring the pool of affordable housing, keeping tabs on the private rental market, building relationships with real estate agencies and offering support “in place”.

“It costs more money to evict someone so if we can offer support to make a tenancy work this is a cheaper option,” Mr Park said.

Mr Park said social housing still offered a “critical safety net” but was adamant the new model was delivering “good outcomes” and the community was starting to take ownership of the issue.

For help, call The Hub on 1800 885 355