Call for host families to help those with a disability in Albany

It is a rewarding feeling to be a host for people living with a disability in the Albany — but the Community Living Association needs more of them.

CLA co-ordinator Jolene Olde said the organisation was in urgent need of more people to sign up to be short-term and weekend hosts.

Ms Olde said she wanted people to think about the difference it could make not only to their lives but to the lives of other families.

“As a host, you will also provide a safe and nurturing environment to support and develop the individual’s self-esteem and emotional and physical wellbeing,” she said.

“Host families are a much-needed service within the Great Southern region, to support the families of those people with a disability to give them some time out or provide another place to go in the case of urgent help being needed.

“They also get the opportunity to learn and see how other families might do things. It gives them the opportunity to increase their social circle and practise their social skills with other people.

“This also helps the Great Southern community so they might have more opportunities and learn the confidence to be involved in the general community in various ways.”

A host family’s role is to develop a trusting relationship with the person, and supporting them to participate in school, vocational training, employment and general day-to-day activities.

Ms Olde said there was no specific vision of what a host should look like.

“The family could be a single person, single parent with children, partnered people with or without children,” she said. “This family may provide 24/7 care and support either in their own home or in the home of the person with a disability.

“If you think you may be interested in becoming a host family and have a spare room at your home, it's an easy process to get involved.”

For details, visit mycla.org.au.