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BACKGROUNDNational targets to reduce homelessness

• By 2013, 7% reduction in the number of South Australian’s experiencing homelessness

• By 2013, one third reduction in the number of Aboriginal South Australians experiencing homelessness

• By 2013, 25% reduction in the number of South Australian’s who are sleeping rough

South Australian Implementation PlanNAHA$132.23m to support specialist homeless services

National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness: An additional $60m over 4 years

A Place To Call Home:$22m for capital investment in Homelessness

Total NPAH and NAHA Funding for 2009-13 is $214.33m

In order to maximise new investment, South Australia has engaged in a whole of sector reform process

Designed to deliver a more connected service sector specific to SA

Consolidate NPAH and NAHA funding to implement sweeping reforms

BACKGROUND

BACKGROUNDHomelessness Sector Reforms: Key Principles• Housing First Approach

• Consolidation of services

• Regionalisation of services

• No wrong door

• Standardised best practice for case management and integration of service

• Separation of tenancy management and support

• Culturally competent responses to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’s

• Priority for safety of women and children

• Children as clients in their own right

BACKGROUND

DCSI Specialist Homelessness ServicesSouth Australia’s Current Homelessness Service is comprised of:

• 44 legal entities (Preferred Support Providers)

• 74 services (Contracted agencies)

• 97 Service outlets

BACKGROUND

New youth specialist homelessness services• Regional Youth Specialist Homelessness Services,

including existing shelter accommodation

• Ladder St Vincent Street

• Integrated Housing Exits – Youth Justice

• Therapeutic Youth Service (expansion of Ruby’s)

• Schools Assertive Outreach

UNO ApartmentsThe VisionShared by:

• The then Minister for Housing, the Hon Jay Weatherill

• Executive Director, Housing SA Phil Fagan Schmidt

• Adelaide City Council

Leveraged via:

• Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan

• National Affordable Housing Agreement

UNO Apartments

The ConceptMixed tenancy model:

• Best practice

• Versatility of tenancy types

Cutting edge built form design

• Six star energy rating

• Safe and secure

• Aesthetics

• 36 car stacker

UNO ApartmentsMaking it happenThe concept was supported by:

• SA Government Cabinet

• Federal Government

• Adelaide City Council

• NGO sector

Building commences in 2010:

• Greenway Architects

• Tagara Builders

Buy in from:

• Local community

• Property owners

• Commercial and residential tenants

• Builders on the ground

• Place making service – Urban Communities

UNO ApartmentsWhat has the

response been so far?

“Surely you people are mad!!”

MEANWHILE..

The inner city crisis services

• About 1000 referrals each year

• About 800 intakes for

• An average of 300 young people made up of

• Young women, and young menA third of all young people are new arrivals

• About one in twenty ATSI

• A third of young women have dependent children (over 100 accommodated each year)

• NAHA funding $1.7m

WE ALL KNOW WHAT THESE PLACES ARE LIKE

WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE MODEL

Gender specific shelters or refuges• Characterised by:• One size fits all congregate living• Shared meals and recreation areas• Interaction between clients often a safety concern –

services by default rule driven to maintain safety within the facility

• In summary• A charity model • Institutional in nature

• Outcomes limited by capacity to• Access the service – deemed safe to accept• Self manage anxiety in close proximity to others

• However – often an effective preparation for a life of welfare

A new way

• SA Government recognised a better way to deliver youth crisis accommodation services

• So what’s new?

o Independent livingo Community integrationo Housing first type approach

o Built form

o Flexibility for guests – more responsive to needs

• Housing first – even if short term stay

• The environment - it gives young people a head start!

• The challenge - demands a reframe in thinking - to be invited to meet in their space!

A valued person – not a homeless person

Between young people, workers and support service

• In Language: Client / Guest Admission or intake / Check-in Case plan / Stay Strong Plan Weakness or deficit / What takes their strength away Identity defined by problem / Identity defined by person

• In systems: Learning from other experts / Learning from the industry

experts in short stays Meals provision / Food security – menus to self prepare

Reframing the relationship

• How we deploy resources accordingly

• Pathway 1 = High Needs• Pathway 2 = Moderate and Low needs• Pathway 3 = Low end needs

How is this achieved?

Aiming for acuity in support services

• Support reflecting actual need

• A triage approach (learning from health)A system of sorting that ensures that attention and care is given to those in greatest need.

Importantly pathways are not based on consistency of response, but in consistency of care.

Rethinking how support is provided

• Aim to support a self managing individual who may be facing a new or ongoing complication in their life journey

• May present as – but is not limited to:• Self-managing and/or motivated • Apparent skills that would support secure employment

opportunities • May have a recent family or housing breakdown • Current financial complications • No known social barriers • Has a tenancy history and demonstrated ability to secure tenancy • Parenting capacity and skills observed (if accompanied by child/ren)

Low need

• Aim to capture and prevent the potential escalation into cyclical homelessness and promote growth to low need

• May present with- but not limited to:• Complicated family history or disputes • Poor social interactions • Some experimental substance related issues• New offender or breach of bail conditions• Verbally challenging but not to other young people• Some financial issues or complications • Poor parenting behaviours (If accompanied by child/ren) • Reported child protection concerns towards self or

accompanying children

Moderate Need

• Recurrent homelessness, or someone who has complex issues that would severely inhibit their capacity to live independently. Behaviours may reflect - but are not limited – to • Complex history of trauma, abuse and/or neglect • Complex family history or history of alternate care • Pattern of self harm / suicidal attempts• Verbal and Physical Aggression•Withdrawal or displays attachment issues• History of property damage • Diagnosed Mental Health condition • Alcohol and other substance issues• Known chronic re-offending behaviour • Under developed or poor social skills • Under a Guardianship order

High need

SUPPORT PATHWAYS

Pathway 1 – High and complex needs

• Minimum five week stay, inclusive of a minimum of 14 hours 1 on 1 support per week.

• Designed to enhance and support the needs of recurrent homelessness (Recurrent homelessness means cycle of needs from one crisis service to another)

SUPPORT PATHWAYS

Pathway 2 – Mild to Moderate needs

• 4 week stay, inclusive of a min of 10 hours 1 on 1 support per week

• Pathway 2 is designed to reduce the potential of entering the cycle of homelessness and to build on measured resilience and well developed coping structures that may have already produced sound outcomes.

• Assumes that the Guest may have a known history to the service, be at risk of entering long term homelessness and has presented with social and emotional barriers that may impact on his/her ability to make sustained change into a secure home of their own,

SUPPORT PATHWAYS

Pathway 3 – Low needs self-efficient • Three week stay, inclusive of 6 / 8 hours 1 on 1 support per

week• Pathway 3 is designed to build and capitalise on a capacity to

self-manage and importantly to prevent co-dependence on service delivery and to develop coping structures that may have already produced sound outcomes.

• Pathway 3 assumes that the Guest has a range of skills they can call on and simply need an immediate place for safety and support, direction and re-connection to services.

NOW WE ARE OPERATIONAL – WHAT NEXT?

Like the view from the balcony of apartment 401

youth110 provides :

• a new outlook on life for young people

• a sense new horizons

• pathways to the place young people want to be

• capacity to take the path in the direction that reflects the young person’s aspirational journey

An environment where dignity and privacy are upheld

A housing response that supports individualised responses

A true reform in responding to young people experiencing homelessness

Dreams do come true….