A new report released today challenges a common assumption that chronically homeless people choose their way of life and do not want the help of support services.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor today visited HomeGround in Melbourne to launch the baseline research into the Street to Home initiative, completed by RMIT University and Swinburne University.
Funded under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness, Street to Home takes a holistic approach to helping the most vulnerable people get back on their feet, to break the cycle of homelessness.
“HomeGround has been leading the way in breaking the cycle of homelessness in Melbourne, making a huge difference in people’s lives,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Their work through the Street to Home initiative is getting people into long-term affordable housing, with ongoing support to tackle their health issues, connect with education and work opportunities, and reconnect with their families, friends and community.
“This is critical support to help make sure participants exit the cycle of homelessness once and for all.
“The baseline research makes it clear that participants do not accept sleeping rough as a way of life, but feel they have to accept their situation because they have no way out.
“Street to Home is giving people a way out of homelessness, so they can get their lives back together.”
Mr O’Connor said the research shows clear evidence of widespread social and economic disadvantage among the participants, who had all lived in and out of homelessness for many years.
“All but one of the clients was receiving Centrelink payments and most had been on a government pension for three years or longer,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Only one-quarter of participants had completed Year 12, compared with more than three quarters of the general Victorian population.
“Three-quarters of the participants had a chronic physical health condition, and two-thirds had been treated for a mental health disorder.
“There was also evidence of widespread alcohol and drug abuse, with 80 per cent of the participants reported having one or both of these problems.
“These figures make it clear that taking a holistic approach to tackling homelessness is the only way we will ever succeed.
“To really make a difference, we must focus on prevention, on early intervention, and on having strong, timely and integrated service response when people need help.
“We need programs that seek to break people out of the cycle of homelessness.
“That’s why this government is putting so much emphasis on tackling entrenched disadvantage, by providing vulnerable people extra support to get back into work, through training, tackling barriers to employment, and subsidised childcare.
“The Gillard Government believes all Australians deserve a safe, secure home, and we will continue to work to provide affordable housing for Australia’s most vulnerable people.
“We have invested an unprecedented $20 billion in housing and homelessness services and programs since 2007.
“In fact, we have made a direct financial contribution to one in every 20 homes built around the nation since 2008.
“Our funding arrangements with the States and Territories, however, are due to expire at the end of this financial year.
“That’s why I have offered the States and Territories interim funding for the next financial year to keep services open while we negotiate a new, long-term agreement.
“As we come up to Christmas, the hardworking people who help our most vulnerable people – and our homeless people themselves – need some certainty while we look at what is working and what could be done better.
“I am heartened by the in-principle commitment by all States and Territories, Liberal and Labor, to negotiate a new funding agreement.
“Evaluations like this one of Street to Home are critical to our understanding of how we can best tackle the challenge of homelessness.”