Transcript Welcome to HomeGround

Community engagement,
advocacy and
ending homelessness
5th Yarra HACC
and Homelessness Forum
22 November 2012
The big questions
- What has community engagement and
advocacy got to do with ending homelessness?
- What do we mean by advocacy?
- What do we mean by community engagement?
- A few examples
- Your questions
Why are we talking about this stuff?
-
Services already end homelessness for people on a day
to day basis – but we are failing to bring down total
numbers
- What barriers are there to good outcomes?
- Lack of access to housing
- Lack of appropriate support (length/type)
- Lack of funding/resources
- Poorly integrated services and service systems
- Poorly designed service models
Who can change these things?
-
Federal/State Government – Ministerial level
Federal/State Government – Departmental policy
makers
Federal/State Government – HSOs/Frontline staff
Local Government
Philanthropy/Corporates – Funds, in-kind, pro bono,
vols
Other community sector organisations – Partnerships
Researchers – Evidence, service development
What do we mean by advocacy?
-
Advocacy, as HomeGround has come to understand it,
covers three key areas:
- Service delivery advocacy (all staff)
- Strategic advocacy (senior staff)
- Public advocacy (media, publications, events)
- Advocacy in this context means working to secure a
better outcome through an improved/changed
response, process, policy or resourcing decision
How do we drive change?
-
Political pressure inc. community attitudes, media
coverage, evidence, influencers and changing politics
Persuasive arguments inc. data, stories and cost
Personal representations from, or on behalf of, clients
Engagement with community members with the
capacity to contribute if motivated/supported to do so
Challenging misconceptions/stereotypes and building
public awareness and support for the people we work
with and the changes we are advocating
What do we mean by community
engagement?
-
Not relying on government to solve all our problems
Realising that we can’t end homelessness without
broader community support for our work – and the goal
Recognising and realising the potential support – of all
kinds – that exists in the community
Acknowledging the vital role people who use services
have in communicating the human side of problems and
solutions
Case study #1 – Elizabeth Street
Common Ground
-
Involvement of private construction firm Grocon and
subcontractors, representing a $10 million contribution
Core partnership between State/Fed, HG and YCH
Broader partnership inc. RDNS, MCC, Rotary, CAE, Last
Cuppa, medical/allied health, Green Collect and others
Proactive public communication of the harm of long-term
homelessness and why the model was needed
Case study #2 – AOF/PRBP
-
-
-
Accommodation Options for Families and the Private
Rental Brokerage Program came out of the Victorian
Rooming House Taskforce and the Call this a home?
Campaign
Both were to be discontinued as of 30 June 2012
In addition to direct advocacy by service providers, there
was significant media coverage and a strong public
response that contributed to a reversal of this decision
Both programs were continued for 12 months and are
again in doubt as of 30 June 2013
Case study #3 – Alphington PS
-
-
-
Earlier this year, via a school-based philanthropy
program, a group of grade 5 students chose
HomeGround as the cause they wanted to support
With the help of Bendigo Bank and in-kind donations
from local businesses, they put together around 50
backpacks for the children of families who come to our
services in housing crisis – with contents aimed at boys
and girls of varying ages
These backpacks were greatly appreciated by the
children who received them via our IAP service in
Case study #4 – Private Rental
Management Program/Housing Options
Program
-
-
Private landlords have made their properties available to
HomeGround via headlease for tenants via our services
Some of these offers have followed media stories
We have also invested a lot of time and energy in building
strong relationships with real estate agents and other
commercial accommodation providers to increase access
to appropriate short and long term housing options
The result is an increase in affordable properties
Case study #5 – Suzie’s story
Your questions