The Cornelia Program Breaking The Cycle Of Homelessness For Women And Children

Just one year on, the Cornelia Program, an Australian-first initiative of the Royal Women’s Hospital, Housing First and Launch Housing, is already making strides in breaking the cycle of homelessness for young families.

Since August 2021, The program has supported 49 women and their babies with transitional accommodation in a new fit-for-purpose apartment complex located in Melbourne’s inner south, comprising 36 studio apartments, as well as tailored wrap-around health care and social support.

During this time, 39 babies have been born while supported by the program, 14 women have already moved into long-term housing and another 11 women are currently in the process of moving into their new homes.  

Elazabeth, one of the program’s first residents, was 20 weeks pregnant and homeless, with nowhere to go and no support when she was referred to the Cornelia Program.

“I was couch surfing from place to place trying to put a roof over my head, I’d given up the thought of being a good mum and thought I was not going to achieve anything in life,” Elazabeth said.

When Elazabeth first moved into her new apartment she said immediately felt safe and a was overcome with a huge sense of relief.

Through the support of the Cornelia Program over the last 12 months, Elazabeth has had the safety and stability of a home to raise her baby, Gervonte, who is now 8 months old and thriving.

She has also been able to rehabilitate from substance use and re-engage with members of her family from whom she’d been estranged.

“The Cornelia Program has changed my life completely. If it wasn’t for this program I don’t know where I would be right now,” Elazabeth said.

“When I look at my son now I’m so proud of what I’ve accomplished with the support of the Cornelia Program. It has given me confidence that I can be a great mother and to never be scared of asking for help.”

Elazabeth is now preparing to move into her own permanent home, a brand new two-bedroom apartment in the Western suburbs of Melbourne, and is excited to start a fresh new healthy life for her and her son.

Launch Housing Senior Family Support Worker, Karen Janssen said she and the Cornelia team have been blown away by the impact the program has already had on so many women.

“When women first come to the Cornelia Program they are in unstable housing, whether it be couch surfing, sleeping in their cars, or living in unsafe households, with no idea what the future holds and no stability to prepare for motherhood,” Karen explained.

“We see women experience a sense of instant relief when they move into their new place and start receiving support through the program, comforted by the knowledge they have 12 months to find their feet and care for themselves and their babies before finding a permanent home.”

Karen said she is seeing first-hand that this holistic approach to breaking the cycle of intergenerational homelessness works, attributing a lot of the success of the program to the collaboration of the three organisations, focusing on both housing and healthcare.

Elena McKay, another Senior Support Worker at the Cornelia Program said the clinical and social support and the range of services women have access to through the Royal Women’s Hospital is also a major contributor to the success of the program.

“Having an in-house midwife is a gamechanger. Our midwife can visit women in the comfort of their rooms and provide a personalised approach more in tune with their needs, as opposed to expecting them to navigate the mainstream system at such a challenging time in their life,” Elena said.

 
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