News
21st July 2017 PROMOTION OF SAFE SLEEPING ADVICE FOR HOMELESSNESS SECTOR
by Irene Tomasszewski Assistant Director Homelessness and Accommodation Support
Promotion of Safe Sleeping Advice for Homelessness Sector
The Commission for Children and Young People has recommended that homelessness services promote safe sleeping arrangements for infants, and the use of infant safe sleeping resources. This follows a recent child death inquiry and the tragic death of an infant. The purpose of child death inquiries is to promote continuous improvement in child protection and the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
The department is promoting the use of the following safe sleeping resources and information. Please share this advice with staff providing homelessness support to families and infants.
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23rd June 2017 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS CHEAPER THAN CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS
by C Parsell, University of Qld in The Conversation
It costs the state government more to keep a person chronically homeless than it costs to provide permanent supportive housing to end homelessness, recent research shows. Over a 12-month period, people who were chronically homeless used state government funded services that cost approximately A$48,217 each. Over another 12-month period in which they were tenants of permanent supportive housing, the same people used state government services that cost approximately A$35,117. The significance of this cost difference is remarkable. Yes, people use A$13,100 less in government-funded services when securely housed compared to the services they used when they were chronically homeless. But, on top of that, the annual average of A$35,117 in services used by supportive housing tenants includes the A$14,329 cost of providing the housing and support. When we provide permanent supportive housing, not only do we realise whole of government cost offsets, but the way people live their lives changes demonstrably. The data show that when people are tenants of supportive housing, their low level criminal behaviour and reliance on crisis health and temporary accommodation services that characterised their lives while homeless reduces. For example, sustaining housing, compared to being homeless for a year, was associated with a 52 per cent reduction in criminal offending, a 54 per cent reduction in being a victim of crime, and 40 per cent reduced time spent in police custody. Their use of short term crisis accommodation reduced by 99 per cent; mental health service used declined by 65 per cent. When people have access to housing that is safe and affordable, they no longer have to live as patients, criminals, inmates, clients, and homeless people. Click here for the full article.
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6th March 2017 STATE GOVERNMENT RELEASES AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGY
by Western Homelessness Networker
On 6 March The State Government released Homes for Victorians, its Affordable Housing Plan. This exciting document includes new policy such as: - A small inclusionary zoning pilot
- Facilitating the build of 50,000 new homes a year
- Growing social housing
- Establishing a Vacancy tax
- Abolishing stamp duty for new first time buyers
- Doubling the first home owner grant in regional Victoria
- Creating the opportunity for first home buyers to co-purchase a property with the Victorian Government
- Improving stability for renters
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16th December 2016 HELP FOR HOMELESSNESS FALLS SHORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LEAVING CARE
by Anglicare Vic
The state government's $109 million plan to attack homelessness is a welcome initiative, particularly for the adult homeless, but it has a big blind spot. It fails to hit the target on the most tragic, yet most easily fixed aspect of youth homelessness.
In the past year more thanover 20,000 young people sought assistance from Victorian homeless services. Young people with backgrounds of state care feature the most heavily in these statistics. According to Swinburne University's national youth homeless survey, more than 60 per cent of homeless young people are from a background of out-of-home care. A further 35 per cent will have five or more places of abode within the first 12 months of exiting state care.
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/help-for-our-homeless-falls-short-20161113-gso406.html
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16th December 2016 STATE GOVERNMENT RELEASES 10 YEAR PLAN TO END FAMILY VIOLENCE
by Western Homelessness Network Coordinator
The State Government has released: Ending Family Violence: Victoria’s Plan for Change. The Plan outlines how the Government will deliver thee recommendations of the Royal Commission in to Family Violence to build a future where all Victorians live free from family violence, and where women and men are treated equally and respectfully. The Plan was recommended by the Royal Commission. It is focused on outcomes. It makes clear our resolute determination to end the murders and keep our children safe, to support victim survivors and stop them falling into homelessness, to build strong and resilient families, and ensure perpetrators are. Click here for a link to the Plan. You can monitor the progress of implementation of the Royal Commission recommendations at: http://www.vic.gov.au/familyviolence.html
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6th November 2016 HOMELESSNESS SERVICES NEED ALTERNATE FUNDING TO MEET DEMAND
by Pro Bono
A study from the University of Western Australia’s Centre for Social Impact (CSI) found between 60.6 per cent and 84.6 per cent of the homelessness sector’s income came from government.
Lead author of the study and CSI director Professor Paul Flatau said the reliance on government funding made service providers vulnerable to changes in policy, funding cuts and financial constraints.
“In particular, current levels of funding are too low to fully meet the current needs of those experiencing homelessness and help homeless people find employment and access permanent housing,” Flatau said.
The study found only a minority of services were able to fully meet demands of their clients for access to permanent housing.
Flatau told Pro Bono Australia News the strain meant many service providers were already investigating alternative funding sources, to varying degrees of success.
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12th April 2016 $572M OVER TWO YEARS TO ENACT ROYAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
by Premier of Victoria
The State Government has allocated a $572 million statewide funding boost over two years in the 2016/17 Victorian Budget to respond to Royal Commission recommendations that must be done now – including more housing and crisis refuges, more counsellors, more prevention programs and more support for children who are victims of family violence.
This package begins to deliver 65 of the Royal Commission’s most urgent recommendations and is the first step in the long-term process to fix our broken system and change attitudes towards women.
The Labor Government’s family violence package, which puts victims at the heart of our reforms, includes:
• $152.5 million to begin a housing blitz to shelter more victims so they don’t have to choose between homelessness and returning to an abusive relationship. Work will commence on building and redeveloping family violence refuges, expanding crisis accommodation, and rapidly funding up to 130 new social housing homes. Victims will also be kept safe at home through innovative options such as help accessing the private rental market.
See the attached press release for further information.
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4th December 2015 FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT FAMILY VIOLENCE FLEXIBLE SUPPORT PACKAGES
by Department Health and Human Services
The Victorian Government recently announced a boost for more practical support for those experiencing family violence, to help them leave a violent relationship and create a safer, more stable future.
Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos said $12 million over four years will fund Flexible Support Packages to assist with expenses faced by those escaping family violence.
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4th September 2015 WOMEN'S INFORMATION, SUPPORT AND HOUSING IN THE NORTH -WELL BEING PROGRAM
by Women's Information, Support and Housing In the North
Women’s Information, Support and Housing In the North (WISHIN) run a fortnightly
Women’s Well Being on a Thursday. It is not a focused therapeutic program but engages a range of local female practitioners to share their skills and experience across a range of practices and activities to benefit the development of health and wellbeing. These practices include: mindfulness, guided meditations and relaxation practices, gentle-paced yoga, chi ball, qigong, sound healing and a range of creative arts and crafts. The sessions are free and generally start at 10.30 am and finish at 2.30 pm with a shared lunch provided.
Referrals and bookings are essential. Please call Karyn Down on 8692 2020
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4th September 2015 PEOPLE SKILLS FOR WORKING WITH COMPLEX BEHAVIOURS (2 DAYS)
by Wodonga TAFE
The Specialist Homelessness Sector short course calendar, which is funded by the Department of Human Services and managed by Wodonga TAFE, has a number of courses that may be relevant to you.
People skills for working with complex behaviours (2 days) – LIMITED PLACES AVAILABLE
Wednesday 9 & Thursday 10 September 2015
Centre for Adult Education, 253 Flinders lane, Melbourne
Price $88
This workshop focuses on developing participants’ skills and abilities to engage with people who have complex needs and what are often referred to as ‘challenging behaviours’. This includes dealing with anger, grief and loss, and mental health issues (risk of suicide is also discussed). Training provides strategies, possible interventions, and new ways of looking at complex behaviours. The content of this training is appropriate for all SHS program types especially initial assessment and planning, case management services, youth, and transitional support.
Click on the link for further details and to secure your place: http://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/people-skills-for-working-with-complex-behaviours-2-days-tickets-1756
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4th September 2015 UNDER THE PUMP: THE PRESSURES ON YOUNG AUSTRALIANS
by John Cain Foundation
This new book takes a hard look at the big issues facing young people today. The John Cain Foundation commissioned a number of experts in issues affecting Australia’s youth – education and training, employment, housing and engagement in the political process. Their essays highlight the risks and challenges faced by young people today.
The book is now available in hard copy for $25
To order your copy email: secretary@johncainfoundation.com.au
This will shortly be available on line as an e-book for $10
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24th July 2015 MINISTER MORRISON ACKNOWLEDGES HOUSING STRESS
by Pro Bono
Housing failures are at the centre of most social service challenges in Australia, the Federal Social Service Minister Scott Morrison warned in a speech in Melbourne on Wednesday.
The Minister said a lack of housing stock and affordability is a sign that federation "is failing us", in a speech on Positive Welfare and Compassionate Conservatism to the Institute of Public Affairs in Melbourne.
“You will find housing failures at the centre of most social service challenges. It is either a cause or consequence,” he said.
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24th July 2015 CHILDREN'S RESOURCE PROGRAM BROKERAGE REFUNDED
by Children's Resource Coordinators
The Children's Resource Coordinators have advised that the Brokerage Program has been refunded under the NPAH.
Attached is the new application form. Please ensure that any applications are made using this form, and get rid of any old forms that you may have lying around. The application form can also be downloaded from the Children's Resource Program website on the ‘brokerage’ tab.
Please make contact with Luisa (luisa@merri.org.au) or Halime (halime@merri.org.au) before filling in the application form to ensure that the application meets the criteria.
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26th June 2015 ABORIGINES ADVANCEMENT LEAGUE- PRESENTATION
by Aborigines Advancement League
The Aborigines Advancement League recently did a presentation on their organisation for the Department of Health and Human Services and the Community Sector in the Northern Metropolitan Region.
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26th June 2015 DECOLONISING SOLIDARITY: DILEMMAS AND DIRECTIONS FOR SUPPORTERS OF INDIGENOUS STRUGGLES
by Clare Land
Decolonizing Solidarity is a newly released book that provides a "thorough examination of the problems that can arise when activists from colonial backgrounds seek to be politically supportive of indigenous struggles. Blending key theoretical and practical questions, Clare Land argues that the impulses that drive middle-class settler activists to support indigenous peoples
will not lead to successful alliances and meaningful social change without being transformed
through a process of public political action and critical self-reflection." See attached flyer for more information.
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26th June 2015 ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY ELDERS SERVICES
by A.C.E.S
ACES recently presented an overview of their and the services they provide at a DHHS Community Sector Forum . ACES operates 3 complex aged care programs from one site. They offer residential care services, low level care hostel and high level care nursing home accommodation
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