Many Ways Home… From the Green to the White Paper on homelessness

White Paper one of the first detailed examples of ‘social inclusion’ in practice If we get this strategy right, it will go a long way to achieving social inclusion Will involve how we respond to almost every social issue –women escaping domestic violence –people leaving prison

Overview of presentation 1.Lobbying around the Green and White Papers this year 2.Submission to the Green Paper 3.What happens now? homelessness and the National Affordable Housing Agreement or ‘NAHA’ what will we have to keep pushing for?

1.Lobbying around the Green and White papers January: White Paper announced February: met with new Minister for Housing –were also meeting with new portfolios March: hosted the Green Paper roundtable

May: National Homelessness Conference –PM opened the Conference and launched the Green Paper –more than 1000 people attended each day June: developed our submission –worked with State/Territory homeless peak bodies to identify a shared position

July: kept talking to politicians –met with Plibersek again –wrote to all Cabinet Ministers to seek opportunity to put our key points –met with Minister for Human Services, Office of Anthony Albanese, August: Homeless Persons Week 22 Aug: wrote to all Cabinet Ministers again

2.Submission to the Green Paper Strong reaction against the 3 options We developed ‘option 4’ Based on a)program and funding arrangements b)whole of government policy settings c)legislative and accountability framework d)a partnership approach

a)Program and funding arrangements Need to set out a 10 year increase in housing Without housing to move into, not surprising don’t achieve outcomes in employment, health, etc

Know that funding for public/community housing has in real terms –Plibersek has said that previous Govt took out $3.5b from the CSHA NRAS won’t necessarily ↑ housing options Tax review?

Enhance SAAP: remains most effective way to link clients with services Improve the current SAAP response –meet unmet demand –provide more $$ to work with clients –fund accompanied children as clients –address workforce development: pay, training, career pathways, etc

New stream of funding which supports clients over extended period of time –agencies aren’t resourced to do this sort of work at the moment –similar approach is used in other programs –type / intensity of support will vary according to people’s needs

Increase capital funding –capital is an essential component of service delivery for clients and staff –clients value appropriate, well maintained properties that are safe –staff need reception areas, workspaces and training rooms

Expand early intervention and prevention programs –Reconnect, HOME Advice

b)whole of government policy settings Commonwealth DV: use National Council employment services improve income support indigenous affairs aged care immigration

States/Territories Improve mainstream response Waiting lists for lots of services Support for people leaving institutions –state care –prison –mental health

c)Legislative and accountability framework Homelessness Act Targets must use the holistic definition of homelessness Research to test how we are going –need for a longitudinal study –how do changes in policy, programs affect the level of homelessness?

Strong peak bodies at national, State/Territory level National lead agency that can assess how we our approach is progressing d)Partnership approach Simplify contracts Pay people appropriately Indexation

3.What happens now? NAHA one of 5 specific purpose payments Remains to be seen how NAHA will influence next steps SAAP $$ will now be under the same agreement as public et al Govt housing What will happen to the architecture of SAAP?

SAAP has its own –Act of Parliament, –governance arrangements, –data set and evaluation mechanisms NAHA could mean no change: could simply make SAAP a ‘sub-program’ But what would be achieved by putting streamlining the number of SPPs together?

Some big fundamental issues that aren’t going to be addressed in the White Paper alone –community sector workforce –access to Government services

Workshop questions 1.What are the critical things that you want to see in the White Paper? 2.What can we do to put pressure on the Government if the White Paper falls short of expectations?