Homelessness Strategies in Australia: Will They Make A Difference

1
Homelessness Strategies in Australia Will They
Make A Difference?

• Council to Homeless Persons
• Victoria
• David Wright-Howie
• Policy Officer

2
Introduction

• Purpose of this Paper
• Analyse homelessness strategies and policy
• Bring information from different jurisdictions
  together
• Create discussion and debate
• Starting point for future analysis

3
Growing Homelessness

• 1996 Census 105,305 individuals
• 2001 Census Likely increase
• 8.4 percent increase in 12-18 year olds
  1994-2001
• 20.4 percent increase in SAAP clients since
  1997-98
• Larger increases in several States

4
Growing Resources

• SAAP as an example
• 27.4 percent increase in total budget allocation
  since 1997-98
• Over 40 percent increase in WA, NT, Queensland
  and ACT
• 56 percent of budget in 2001-02 in NSW and
  Victoria

5
Total SAAP Recurrent Funding per Client,
Australia 1997-98 to 2001-02
6
Resources v Demand

• Resources barely keeping pace with client demand
• 5.8 percent budget growth per client since
  1997-98
• Negative growth per client in Tasmania, SA and NT

7
State Homelessness Strategies State by State

• NSW Incremental and regional approach
• Vic Statewide consultation, action plan,
  implementation
• Qld Internal departmental policy process
• WA Statewide consultation, government response
• SA Current Statewide consultation process
• Tas No strategy, SAAP restructure
• NT No strategy.Focus on indigenous people
  young people
• ACT No strategy. Taskforce on Affordable Housing

8
State Homelessness Strategies

• Many similar primary issues including
• Housing
• Transitional support
• Aboriginal housing and support services
• Mental health
• Young people leaving care
• Complexity of need
• Drug and alcohol issues
• People exiting correctional services or jail
• Public housing stability
• Family violence
• Workforce development and training
• Community education

9
State Homelessness Strategies Common Strategic
Themes

• Need for whole-of government approach
• More and improved data collection
• Pilot projects
• Redesign or reconfigure service system
• Emphasis placed on Partnership and Collaboration

10
National Homelessness Strategy

• Specific Initiatives
• Commonwealth Advisory Committee of Homelessness
  (CACH)
• Demonstration Projects
• Family Homelessness Prevention Pilots
• Refers to other Commonwealth programs
• Total funding 8.7 million over four years

11
National Homelessness Strategy

• Observations
• Narrowly focused research agenda
• Little engagement with sector since 2001
• No actions or proposals
• Poor communication

12
Conclusion

• Homelessness national leadership required
• Increased resources but barely keeping pace with
  demand
• State homelessness strategies have many common
  themes
• Policy Responses highlight resource management
  issues and decisions

13
Conclusion

• State homelessness strategies have benefits
• National Homelessness Strategy narrow agenda,
  poor communication and lost momentum
• Importance of communication in strategy
  development and implementation
• Reduction in the level of homelessness is the key
  measure of success