WWDACT Reps at Homelessness Forum

Hi from WWDACT's new representative - Sue Carbone

Sue has joined the ACT Homelessness Forum for WWDACT. It's called HNet, and meets at Yarramundi Reach about every two months. This is her report for the June 11 meeting.

Just for starters:SAAP Services (Supported Accommodation Assistance Program) has changed its name to NAHA (National Affordable Housing Agreement)!

There were 3 speakers:
1. Tim Moore - Australian Catholic University
Tim introduced the "Supporting Kids Kit", with its 6 principles for supporting kids who are experiencing homelessness.
1. helping kids feel Safe and secure
2. treating kids as individuals
3. having 'family' - a sense of 'being at home' rather than 'having a house'
4. having their own environment
5. participating in all planning
6. forming partnerships
for more information: tim.moore@acu.edu.au/6209 1229/www.acu.edu.au
Also look at St Lukes Innovative Resources (Bendigo) for counselling materials.

2. Ann Ponsonbury - Office for Children, Youth & Family Support
Ann is in the Placement and Permanency Planning in Care and Protection Services section.

She outlined the 40% decline in foster placements, at same time as a 100% increase in need over a decade. The safety, welfare and well-being of child/young person is paramount over the rights of the child.

The options for permanent placement in the ACT are: Enduring parental Responsibility Orders and Conditional (Open) Adoptions.

3. Shannon Pickles - St Vincent de Paul
Shannon outlined the new housing options
1. "Place to Call Home" initiative -20 new houses by 2014, 50% for indigenous families
2. "Street to HOme" scheme - all 'rough sleepers' will have the offer of a bed by 2020.
3. "Suppport in Public Houses" scheme $1.3 million per annum for community linkages.
4. "Foyer" model housing - a Live 'n Learn model, where tenancy is conditional on staying in education, starts in 2010
5. "Housing & Support" initiative (HASI) contracted to the Richmond Fellowship, $1.4 million over 4 years, targeting Mental Health Consumers
6. Establishment of a Central Intake system (co-located with Gateway Services Belconnen ($125,000 per annum)
7. Domestic Violence Crisis Service, $100,000 one-off upgrade payment
8. Expanded "Stairway" scheme, run by Anglicare - 10 more transitional houses
9. Canberra Men's Centre, linked with the prison, for the "No Exits to Homelessness" program for men. NOTE: the same program is not yet in place for women.

ACT Health has a scheme with St V de P to support Samaritan House accommodation for single men.

A big lesson from this is that Housing services are no longer just the prerogative of Disability Housing and Community Services. More networking is now needed with ACT Health, mental health services and drug & alcohol services.