Housing service homes in

PLANS are afoot for a housing services provider to again call Pakenham home almost a year after it had to move away.
Westernport Youth Accommodation Support Services (WAYSS Ltd) provides support to people at risk of homelessness, in particular young people, and women and children escaping domestic violence.
The notforprofit organisation was based in Pakenham from the 1980s until changes at Cardinia Shire Council’s Henty House and the YZone saw staff relocated to Narre Warren last October.
WAYSS Ltd’s CaseyCardinia manager of transitional support services Kerry Fleming said steps were now being taken to reestablish itself in Pakenham.
“We’re really excited about this, it is a very positive move,” Ms Fleming said.
“We have never stopped our work with the local community but to move back into town is terrific.”
WAYSS Ltd is seeking to set up headquarters at a property it owns at 48 James Street.
Council last week unanimously supported an amendment to its planning scheme that will rezone the property to allow the existing house to be reconverted for office use.
Council will now ask state Planning Minister Rob Hulls to approve the amendment.
Councillors’ support came without discussion at the meeting. An officer’s report said the move was an opportunity to mobilise resources back to Cardinia and house staff from all of WAYSS Ltd’s programs.
The relocation would provide “a greater resource level which will be easily accessible to the community”, the report said.
Cardinia manager of community wellbeing Fiona Hodges also voiced support for the move.
Ms Hodges said she considered the provision of local delivery of health services as very important.
Ms Fleming said WAYSS Ltd was very happy with the council’s decision.
She said the past 11 months had been a challenge as WAYSS Ltd staff have had to commute back and forth from Narre Warren to Pakenham to keep appointments with clients.
“This is the first step on the road,” she said.
“We have a real commitment to this community and we will be back with a vengeance.”
Ms Fleming said the demand for WAYSS Ltd services continued to grow with the local population.
Funded by the Department of Human Services, the organisation provides housing services and advice and manages around 360 transitional housing properties across the service catchments.