Parramatta Mens Homelessness Coalition

1
Parramatta Mens Homelessness Coalition

• Working Together in the Parramatta LGA

2
History of SAAP Services in Parramatta

• Before 2002 there were three mens
• accommodation services, Kendall House (MA),
• Hope Hostel (PM) and the Cardinal Freeman Centre
  (SVDP).
• The emphasis was on bed numbers and
• emergency accommodation rather than client
• engagement and support. There was no
• managed exits into other accommodation.
• Services tended to duplicate rather than
  complement
• and there was a history of competition rather
  than
• collaboration.

3
Development

• In December 2002, the Parramatta Mens
• Homelessness Coalition was established.
• The Coalition comprised of representatives of
• SAAP funded services within Parramatta
• Mission, Mission Australia and St Vincent de
• Paul, as well as representatives of DoCS, the
• Dept of Housing, Office of Community Housing
• and Parramatta Council.

4
Development

• The service system was restructured to
• Differentiate service provision for homeless men
  between the three providers
• Redistribute some of the recurrent SAAP funding
  between the providers on a voluntary basis
• On a pilot basis, increase the level of non
  recurrent funding applied to these services so as
  to achieve enhancement through increased
  provision of trained staff

5
Objectives of the Coalition

• To ensure effective and collaborative service
  response and use of resources to people who are
  homeless or at risk of homelessness
• To develop and maintain partnerships with the
  community, government, business and non
  government agencies to meet the needs of people
  who are homeless or at risk of homelessness

6
Objectives of the Coalition

• To review available research and resources around
  homelessness and implement findings where
  appropriate
• To conduct and evaluate service delivery within
  the Coalition
• To address stigmas and perceptions of homelessness

7
Coalition Process 2002
8
Evaluation of the Coalition

• In 2005 a review was undertaken of the
• Coalition, although some problems were
• recognised, the benefits of services working
• together was established.

9
Initial Problems

• Unmet Need
• Bottle Necking
• Adjustment to new work procedures
• Retaining independent identities
• Confusion and misunderstandings between services
• Lack of formalised complaints procedure
• Case worker transfers
• Expedient exits

10
Benefits to Working Together

• Consistency for both staff and clients
• Shared Access Programs, Resources, Staff,
  Networks, Buildings and Vehicles
• Staff Development
• Service Development
• Better Networking
• Change of Culture
• Support
• Intervened the Revolving Door syndrome

11
Coaltion Process 2009
12
New Partners

• Centrelink
• Parramatta Community Offender Services, Dept of
  Corrective Services
• Affordable Housing
• Western Sydney Area Health Service

13
The Coalition 2009

• Since the conception of the Coalition, changes
• have been made to deal with the challenges
• that were noted, new partners have joined
• the coalition and new programs have been
• introduced. With the added services and
• programs the coalition has taken on a new
• dynamic.