Connecting with Homeless People

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Connecting with Homeless People
Associate Professor David Mackenzie Major David
Eldridge Captain Paul Moulds
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National Youth Commission Model

• The National Youth Commission into Youth
  Homelessness is the second independent inquiry
  into youth homelessness since the HREOC Inquiry
  headed by Brian Burdekin in 1989.
• The NYC is funded by The Caledonia Foundation and
  being organised by Youth Development Australia.

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NYC Commissioners

• Ms Narelle Clay - a sector leader and
  homelessness services manager
• Father Wally Dethlefs - one of the three Burdekin
  commissioners in 1989
• Associate Professor David Mackenzie - a leading
  researcher on homelessness
• Major David Eldridge - The Salvation Army.

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Terms of Reference

• Document the history of policy, programs and
  initiatives by Federal, state and territory
  governments to assist homeless youth
• Identify the issues that prevent homeless young
  people connecting with their local community and
  participating in the broader society as active
  citizens
• Draw attention to positive and negative changes
  affecting homeless young people since the last
  national independent inquiry into youth
  homelessness by the HREOC in 1987
• Report on the adequacy of existing services and
  programs as well as identify innovative
  initiatives for responding to the needs of
  homeless young people
• Recommend actions by various stakeholders and
  government authorities to resolve the problem of
  youth homelessness within a broad policy
  framework from prevention to post supported
  accommodation
• Explore the basis for a renewed national youth
  homelessness accord between the Commonwealth and
  the states/ territories and between government
  and the community.

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NYC Processs

• 21 days of hearings in all states and
  territories
• 316 individuals and organisations have given
  evidence
• 95 submissions including 7 government
  departments
• 6 policy workshops so far
• Many young people have had a say.

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Some themes

• Care and protection - some 15-20 of young
  people who become homeless have been through the
  Care and protection system
• A significant group are Indigenous young
  people
• Affordable housing crisis - will have dire
  consequences for homeless young people.
• Evidence of early intervention working, but
  much more is needed
• Young people with high and complex needs are a
  major issue for the service system
• Employment - problematic for homeless young
  people - need for a range of programs from
  pre-employment to supported employment.

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Key points

• Strategy and long-term national plan
• Continuum of services - prevention, early
  intervention, supported accommodation and support
  for re-integration into the community
• Quantum of services and initiatives based on the
  needs of homeless young people - a sufficient
  response to meet the extent of need
• Community-based service coordination/
  collaboration.

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Communities of services

• Communities ie LGA or LGA clusters as units for
  service networking and coordination
• A coordination community consortium structure
• Cross-sectoral and cross-departmental
• A distributed IT network for communication and
  efficient sharing of info
• Recurrent Commonwealth and states/ territories
  funding for community development and maintenance.

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Eliminate youth homelessness in 25 years

• Set an aspirational national goal
• Build appropriate structures and processes
• Develop a national strategy and long-term
  national plan
• Establish long-term and short to medium term
  national targets
• Adequate social investment by the Commonwealth
  and states/ territories.

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Oasis - working with chronically homeless youth
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Employment, education training pathways out of
homelessness
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Making a difference The power of community
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