Offenders with Co-existing Disorders- Housing and Support Projects under the NSW Housing and Human Services Accord

Place image in this space Introductions Hughen Edwards, Corrective Services NSW, Project Officer, Co-existing Disorders Project, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie Kelly-Anne Stewart, Housing NSW, Senior Project Officer, Client Programs and Partnerships.

Place image in this space Offenders with Co-Existing Disorders Aim of the project To reduce reoffending by effectively meeting the criminogenic needs of supervised community- based offenders with co-existing disorders Definition of co-existing disorders An offender with concurrent problematic alcohol and/or other drug use and/or mental illness and/or intellectual disability

Place image in this space Offenders with Co-Existing Disorders In 2006 Corrective Services NSW commenced the project in 5 sites across NSW: Nowra Gosford Sydney Bathurst Newcastle

Place image in this space Partnership with Housing NSW Corrective Services NSW approached Housing NSW to form a partnership under the NSW Housing and Human Services Accord to link in housing assistance for a sub set of eligible clients The Accord is a framework used for formalising interagency partnerships. In 2007 Operating Agreements commenced at 3 sites Gosford, Nowra and Newcastle In 2009 an Operating Agreement at Bathurst commenced

Place image in this space Partner Agencies Partner agencies include: Corrective Services NSW Department of Human Services (Housing NSW, Ageing Disability and Home Care) NSW Health (Drug & Alcohol and Mental Health Services) Justice Health Various NGOs

Place image in this space Offenders with Co-Existing Disorders -Target Group Clients referred to the trial were: Offenders on community based orders Had current or previous AOD issues, plus mental health disorders and/or an intellectual disability Offenders at a medium or higher risk of reoffending as determined by the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) assessment tool.

Place image in this space Offenders with Co-Existing Disorders-Eligibility Criteria Must be under Probation & Parole supervision Have co-existing disorders Must be eligible for Public Housing and meet requirements for Priority Housing Willing to live in the project area Willing to accept support Must be assessed and have willing to have support mapped to meet their needs Provide informed consent to participate and allow partner agencies to share information

Place image in this space Service Level Agreement finalised by Partner Agencies

Place image in this space Service Level Agreement Each client accepted into the project is required to have a Service Level Agreement (SLA) The SLA details the type, duration and intensity of the support in place for the individual The support is designed to address the offender’s needs and assist them to sustain their tenancy The SLA is a live document and reviewed to reflect any changes in client’s needs

Place image in this space Offenders with Co-existing Disorders Overview 65 clients have been referred to the Project 36 clients gained accommodation as part of the project. Of these: 27 clients housed in Public Housing 2 clients in supported accommodation due to intellectual disability 7 clients housed in the private rental market 5 clients are approved and waiting for allocation

Place image in this space Offenders with Co-existing Disorders Overview cont.. Reasons for other referrals not continuing in project include Reoffending Relocated out of the project areas Deemed ineligible for project due to change in circumstance Refusing to participate in project or engage with support Declining offers of housing assistance

Place image in this space Offenders with Co-existing Disorders Reoffending Statistics Clients housed through project: 2 clients reoffended One reoffended and awaiting sentencing in community One reoffended and entered custody Clients referred but did not proceed in project: 5 clients reoffended 4 entered custody while being referred 1 breach of order

Place image in this space Offenders with Co-existing Disorders Tenancy outcomes 1 tenancy relinquished by client Minor tenancy issues reported and dealt with via interagency approach 0 failed Public Housing tenancies

Place image in this space Client Outcomes Actively addressing AOD and MH issues Positive engagement with support services All clients housed have sustained their public housing tenancies Reduction in re-offending

Place image in this space Case Studies Case Study 1 Before referral to project: Severe mental health issues Refusing medication As a result of the project Has accepted support Successfully sustaining tenancy

Place image in this space Case Studies Case Study 2 Before referral to project Mental health and AOD issues Violent behaviour Chronic history of homelessness As a result of the project Managing mental health and AOD issues Successfully sustaining tenancy

Place image in this space Agency Outcomes Better understanding of each agency and their core business Better communication and information sharing between agencies Effective engagement of NGOs with appropriate expertise Improved relationships/partnerships between agencies, assisting with management of clients other than those nominated in the project.

Place image in this space Agency Challenges Housing stock availability in locations that are suitable for clients with complex needs Ongoing engagement with complex clients is resource intensive Difficult to engage clients once supervision order expires

Place image in this space Lessons Learned Agencies to nominate clients who meet all eligibility criteria and are willing to engage Thorough assessment of client needs is required before accepting referrals Clients need to remain engaged with support services for varying lengths of time, more complex needs = longer engagement, requiring flexibility in support commitment

Place image in this space Lesson Learned cont… Housing allocation should consider client’s issues, location of support and type of property Build client capacity to sustain tenancy and access support when needed beyond the life of project A longer supervision order is more beneficial when engaging clients with very complex needs.

Place image in this space Future Directions The trial period has now finished and the project will continue in all sites until at least June 2011 Housing NSW and Corrective Services are conducting evaluations Agencies agree that the project has been of great benefit to improve the interagency service delivery for this highly complex client group and in relation to overall interagency collaboration

Place image in this space Questions??