So much more could be done

1
So much more could be done
Homelessness
2
Its like being locked out of your house when
its raining. And youre only in your pyjamas.
Youre about to make something to eat and you go
out to put the cat out and get locked
outside.Youre hungry and that, and your cold,
its raining and youre in your pyjamas. You
havent got a torch
Homelessness

• Comments from homeless Australians sourced from
  
• Stories of Strength from the Streets, Hunter, NSW

3
Each day 1 in every 200 Australians are homeless
What is the level of homelessness?

• You hit rock bottom and youve got no money and
  youve got nowhere to live, youve got no food,
  probably no clothes, stuff like that. I think
  maybe its depression, like living on the streets
  is depression.

4
400,000 households spend over half their income
on housing costs
Is there a need for more affordable housing?

• Do everything in your power to try to keep your
  family together, if youre not paying rent on
  time, always pay it on time. Its a very hard,
  cold and cruel world out there without a home

5
16 homeless assistance services 6x more likely
overcrowded housing
What about Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander
homelessness?

• I was on Newcastle Railway Station and the
  station master said get up and move on mate this
  is not a bloody motel or something mate.

6
A great deal of homelessness in Australia is
preventable
Homelessness as a barometer of social policy

• Stop pushing people around from pillar to
  post

7
National response to homelessness
silo approach
National Homelessness Strategy
State Territory Homelessness Strategies
SAAP
Income Support Employment Aged
Care Housing Health Mental health Education Legal
Justice Corrections Child Protection Out of Home
Care Local govt
15
8
National response to homelessness
silo approach
National Homelessness Strategy
State Territory Homelessness
Strategies
SAAP
Other Sectors
9

National drug strategy a coordinated integrated
approach

• developing and implementing national strategies
• coordinating outcomes through complementary
  integrated Commonwealth, state and territory
  structures
• building partnerships, including between
  governments, affected communities, and service
  providers
• promoting community understanding
• implementing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
  Islander Peoples Complementary Action Plan
• The National Drug Strategy Australias
  Integrated Framework 2004-2009

10

National drug strategy a coordinated integrated
approach
11
National response to homelessness

a coordinated integrated approach
12
National response to homelessness

missing infrastructure

• Drugs
• Domestic violence
• Sexual assault
• Problem Gambling
• ( Mental health )

• Housing
• Drugs
• Families

• Child protection
• Domestic violence
• Sexual assault
• Youth Studies

• Industry planning
• Workforce
• Standards
• Accreditation

13
Homeless Australians are part of our families,
our communities, our nation. Arent they?

• Do not judge people.
• Do not judge people for what you see.

14
Is there a shift from the welfare approach to
social inclusion?

• Theyve got to get out in the streets, talk to
  people like me, just like youre doing now. I
  think you get an input from people who are
  actually experiencing it

15
Each year, 1 in every 50 under 5Every day, 2 in
every 3 turned away
What about our homeless children?

• Try and find emergency accommodation for a
  single parent with 2 kids. You get on the phone
  and be told by some person on the phone that
  youve never even met no, we cant help you.

16
So much more could be done
What about our homeless children?