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Strengthening Homeless Services in WA CHANTAL ROBERTS - EXECUTIVE OFFICER DR SHAE GARWOOD - SENIOR RESEARCH AND POLICY OFFICER Outline About Shelter WA Consultation process to “Strengthen Homelessness Services” Homelessness in WA and the policy context Findings from survey, interviews and forum Next steps About Shelter WA NGO Peak Body Commitment to affordable, accessible housing and security of tenure Focus on low income and other disadvantages, inc homelessness Informed voice on housing policy and related issues Research, collaboration and consultation Strengthening Homeless Services Survey, interviews, forums, advisory committee To shape an advocacy agenda to inform future directions and policy advice Homelessness in WA 9,595 WA people homeless on Census night in 2011 Additionally, over 7,000 people were marginally housed Increased number of people seeking homelessness services due to financial reasons Homelessness in WA During 2012-13, an estimated 21,417 people received support from a government-funded specialist homelessness agency in Western Australia Of these, 29% were under the age of 18 Regional & Remote Areas Regional & remote areas are generally seeing an increase in homelessness Some areas such as the Kimberley in WA are experiencing a significantly higher rate of homelessness than the rest of the state (540 persons per 10,000 compared to 43 per 10,000) National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness Jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the State Funding managed by the Department for Child Protection & Family Support Focus on early intervention and prevention The Department of Housing provides housing through 7 NPAH programs NPAH Successes “NPAH … a catalyst to reform the homelessness response in WA” Street to Home Safe at home High success rate in clients who have been housed Capital expenditure contributed to Oxford Foyer and St. Bart’s Lime St Complex What barriers have you or your clients experienced in getting appropriate services? Are there any groups you feel are under-served by the existing homelessness services? What changes would you like to see? Interviews with service providers NPAH has been successful at getting people into homelessness services Lack of ‘exit points’ remains a big problem New cohorts of families and older women Overlap with mental illness and disabilities Interviews with People at Kwinana Beach Future of Homelessness Forum 80 participants Conclusions: Collaboration between service providers and government agencies is required; Homelessness services to work across a number of domains, especially employment and health; Integrated services, working in partnership; Clear and co-ordinated advocacy to ensure the voices of the people we represent are heard; Continued and expanded homelessness research, especially longitudinal and Registry Week activities. This in turn supports advocacy. Future of Homelessness Forum Conclusions (continued): Adequate funding for the sector; Government responsibility and accountability, and a bi partisan plan and approach to what is needed; Housing to be treated as a social good, rather than a treasury asset; Celebrate success, especially with the State Government, as this will continue to drive progress; Continue to develop the community housing sector; and Better use of underutilised or vacant dwellings, especially in inner-city areas. This may require changes to Local Government planning controls Next Steps Interagency Homelessness Advisory Committee Advocating for ongoing homelessness funding beyond June 2015 Developing WA Housing Hub which will include information, resources and tools for the housing and homelessness sector Thank you Website: www.shelterwa.org.au E-mail: [email protected] Questions?