The Challenge of Reducing Homelessness Assoc. Professor David Mackenzie (Swinburne University) Northern Rivers Homelessness Forum 2016

The Road Home: A National Approach to Reducing Homelessness  Turning off the tap  Improving and expanding services  Breaking the cycle

Cost of Youth Homelessness in Australia RESEARCH Assoc. Professor David Mackenzie (Swinburne University) Professor Paul Flatau, UWA Centre for Social Impact) Professor Adam Steen (Charles Sturt University) Dr Monica Thileking (Swinburne University) The Costs of Youth Homelessness in Australia project is an ARC Linkage research project undertaken by the Swinburne University Institute for Social Research, the University of Western Australia and Charles Sturt University, in partnership with The Salvation Army, Mission Australia and Anglicare (Canberra & Goulburn).

A longitudinal survey of homeless and other disadvantaged young people over three years Cost of Youth Homelessness in Australia ‘Homeless Group’ 298 young people who were clients of the Specialist Homelessness Service system ‘Unemployed Group’ 96 young people who were clients of the Jobs Services Australia system but not homeless A key focus was on health and justice services usage

Utilisation of health services, homeless & unemployed youth

Health Costs for homeless & unemployed youth

Health services cost due to homelessness The costs to the Australia economy of health services associated with young people experiencing homelessness is an average of $8,505 per person per year or $355 million across all young people aged accessing Specialist Homelessness Services. This is $6, per person per year more than for long-term unemployed youth (comparison group of other disadvantaged youth)

Utilisation of justice services, homeless & unemployed youth

Justice costs for homeless & unemployed youth

Justice services cost due to homelessness The costs to the Australia economy of justice services associated with young people experiencing homelessness is an average of $9,363 per person per year or $391 million across all young people aged accessing the Specialist Homelessness Service system. This is $8,242 per person per year more than for long- term unemployed youth. (comparison group of other disadvantaged youth)

Cost of Youth Homelessness in Australia The total cost to the Australian economy of additional health and justice services is an estimated $747million annually or $626m annually more than for young unemployed youth. This exceeds the total cost (approx. $619m) of providing Specialist Homelessness Services to the 256,000 people (young and old) assisted by the system over the same period. Overall finding

Cost of Youth Homelessness in Australia Policy Priority One: Early intervention to reduce the flow of young people into the Specialist Homelessness Service system. Policy Priority Two: For young people who become homeless despite early intervention, or who were already living indpendently prior to homelessness – rapid rehousing – housing options specifically designed for young people. Two key Policy Priorities

Cost of Youth Homelessness in Australia David MacKenzie, Paul Flatau, Adam Steen & Monica Thielking (2016). The Costs of Youth Homelessness in Australia: Research Briefing. Melbourne: Swinburne University of Technology. David MacKenzie, Paul Flatau, Adam Steen & Monica Thielking (2016). The economic case for a more effective response to Youth Homelessness. Melbourne: Swinburne University of Technology. Paul Flatau, Monica Thielking, David Mackenzie & Adam Steen (2015). The cost of youth homelessness in Australia study: snapshot report 1. Melbourne: Swinburne University of Technology.

A ‘community of schools & services’ COSS early intervention platform OR ‘Collective Impact’ – A new paradigm Policy Priority One: Early Intervention to reduce homelessness 1!1!

Thinking critically about the system The existing ‘youth service system’ is largely crisis- oriented! The existing ‘youth service system’ is funded and administered in silos!

A systems model – for vulnerable youth (causal loop diagram)

Rethinking & Reframing

COLLABORATION ‘community of schools and services’ COSS Model EARLY IDENTIFICATION ‘Population Screening’ AIAD – Australian Index of Adolescent Development PRACTICE FRAMEWORK  Multi-tiered;  Flexible;  Dynamic over time; LONGITUDINAL OUTCOMES MEASUREMENT  Reduced family conflicts & homelessness;  Less early school leaving Foundations of TGP/ COSS Model

COLLABORATION ‘community of schools and services’ Executive Governance Group (core TGP partners) Participating community services and secondary schools TGP operations staff early intervention platform – intake team, case workers and school welfare staff Swinburne University (data collection, research and evaluation) Government Stakeholders Policy decision-making & funding

EARLY IDENTIFICATION ‘population screening’

PRACTICE FRAMEWORK

PRACTICE FRAMEWORK - Multiple concurrent sub-reforms SYSTEM - OLD WAYTGP – NEW WAY Ethics - AutonomyEthics – Beneficence Programmatic ResponseTailored Holistic Response Youth ResponseYouth Centred – Family Focussed Access to servicesCapacity & Behaviour Change Risk AvoidanceRisk Tolerance Information inaccessibleInformation shared Multiple Workers to meet needsOne Key Worker 8 Entry points across 14 programsOne Entry Point Multiple manuals/documentationOne practice manual/tools (Case Work) Multiple Data CollectionsOne risk / outcome measurement (+ multiple data collections)

LONGITUDINAL OUTCOMES MEASUREMENT

Early Intervention Platform - Early days but so far … Young people accessing Youth Entry Point Young people returned home from crisis 1.4%38.2% (45 young people) refuge within 12 weeks Education/training evident 22%96% in case planning Young people engaged in?68% education/training Case plans with activities for family7%72% connection/ reconciliation Young people diverted from homelessness98266

In Summary  Population Screening process to identify young people at-risk prior to crises (AIAD);  Community Early Intervention Platform – intake and screening;  Community Early Intervention Platform – key youth and family workers;  Governance and partnership development;  Data, Evaluation and Research – Swinburne  E-Wellbeing – cross-sectoral IT database;  Community Early Intervention Platform – workforce development.

 Rapid rehousing Policy Priority Two: Early Intervention to reduce homelessness 2  Affordable housing

Policy Priority Two: Early Intervention to reduce homelessness 2  A national registered community housing provider specifically founded to provide youth-specific housing but also youth-appropriate housing.  An Australian first and possibly a world first initiative for the stock of affordable housing for young Australians.  Support through community partners is about enabling young people to engage successfully in education and training and subsequently find sustainable employment.

Common Agenda All participants have a shared vision for change, a common understanding of the problem(s), and joint approach through agreed actions and interventions Shared Measurement A consistent collection of data and measurement of results across all participants and activities – aligned effort and inter-accountability Mutually Reinforcing Activities Differentiated activities but coordinated and collaborative through a mutually agreed plan(s) and reinforcing action(s) Continuous Communication Consistent, open communication to build trust, keep a focus on mutual objectives and to maintain a common motivation and long-term commitment Backbone Support Creating and managing ‘collective impact’ requires real work and skilled staff to support and coordinate the activities of participating organisations Australian Index of Adolescent Development AIAD/ e-Wellbeing A ‘Community of Schools & Services’ COSS Model of Early intervention Collective Impact