prevention of homelessness. what does it mean for the salvation army? the salvation army australia...
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Prevention of Homelessness. Prevention of Homelessness. What does it mean for the What does it mean for the Salvation Army?Salvation Army?
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Netty Horton
Territorial Social Programme Director
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Salvation Army Social ProgrammesSalvation Army Social Programmes
Southern Territory
600 social programmes including emergency relief, housing and homelessness, drug and alcohol, children and family services
$300 million
Every night providing 600 crisis and 4,000 non crisis beds and over 80,000 meals
Homelessness PreventionHomelessness PreventionOften used termPrevention vs early intervention
vs crisis responseSaving $Saving costly impact on lives of
individuals and families
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Government White Paper 2008 – “The Government White Paper 2008 – “The Road Home”Road Home”“Turning off the Tap” – A Focus on Prevention Prevention and early intervention are the most
effective and efficient ways to reduce homelessness.
Prevention strategies need to be given a greater focus in the future homelessness response.
Prevention strategies should be focused on key transition points and life events.
There are many examples of successful prevention strategies at the local level.
Over the next 10 years, effort should be focused on delivering evidence-based prevention at scale across the country.
Specific responses are required for different cohorts.
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Turning off the Tap Turning off the Tap InitiativesInitiatives Initiatives under this strategy include: Increasing support for people in public and private rental housing to
maintain their tenancies (HA 8/10) Assisting up to 9,000 additional young people between 12 and 18 years
of age to remain connected with their families (HA 6/10) Assisting up to 2,250 additional families at risk of homelessness to stay
housed (HA 10/10) ‘No exits into homelessness’ from statutory, custodial care, health,
mental health and drug and alcohol services (HA /10) Helping women and children who experience domestic violence to stay
safely in the family Home (HA 5/10) Delivering community based mental health services under the Personal
Helpers and Mentors Program (PHAMs) to 1,000 difficult to reach Australians, including people who are homeless (HA 7/10)
Establishing a network of 90 Community Engagement Officers to improve access to
Centrelink services for people at risk of homelessness. (HA 9/10)
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Victorian Homelessness Victorian Homelessness Action PlanAction Plan
The Government, through the Victorian Homelessness Action Plan, will:
support innovative approaches to homelessness
investigate models that focus specifically on early intervention and prevention
better target resources when and where they are most needed and where they will make the biggest difference.
We will build a service system that meets a range of needs where people are able to access help, advice and assistance where and when they need it.
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Causes of homelessness are structural and should be addressed as part of a partnership approach between and across Governments, and between and across service providers.
National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness– Existing and Future
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Key IssuesKey Issues
Key Issues continuedKey Issues continued
Difference between early intervention and prevention and does it matter?Yes
And
No!
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
What does TSA do What does TSA do already?already?
Prevention (little)Early Intervention (some)Crisis (most)
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
The Economic Social Impact SurveyThe Economic Social Impact SurveyWhat people did and felt in response to their
financial situations.
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
“I have never struggled this much before.”
“There are times I think I am better off not alive.”
“Thought about selling my stuff, but there is not much to
sell. I’m poor.”
“Everything is so expensive now – I feel helpless.”
“Feel like I have hit lowest point and no one is there to
help.”
“I’m trying so hard not to be in this position – it makes me
cry some nights.”
“The rising cost of living and no change in income makes
living week to week (let alone day to day) and feeding my
family very difficult.”The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Findings 2Findings 2The essentials of life – what I don’t have.
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Findings 3Findings 3Multiple deprivations
Saunders et al (2007) note that severe levels of deprivation correspond to missing our on at least 5 or more area simultaneously
PreventionPreventionAdvocacyBig Picture, income, affordable
housing, education, community building
Implications: Diverting Mission Support Funding
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
ConclusionsConclusions
Homelessness appears as TSA’s “core business.”Prevention is our ultimate goalShould prevention be our service goal, or is it one of many?
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory