4Substance Abuse

1

• 4) Substance Abuse
• Typically already linked into a pre-existing
  drug culture or network

2

• 5) Youth
• People who have experienced a period of
  homelessness while under the age of 18 years of
  age are either
• - victims of significant neglect or abuse
• - dissidents

3

• Myth or fact?
• 80 of Homeless Rough Sleepers are mentally
  ill?

4

• While it is true that amongst the long term
  homeless, substance abuse and mental health
  issues are significantly higher
• BUT
• Two thirds of homeless people will develop a
  mental illness after they become homeless - in
  particular young people.

5

• Myth or fact?
• Homeless Rough Sleepers are all addicts of
  some drug?

6

• Two thirds of homeless people develop substance
  abuse AFTER they become homeless - in particular
  young people.
• This is because drugs become a basic coping
  mechanism and peer pressure for life on the
  streets.
• Drugs are on an adaptive response to an
  unpleasant environment

7

• How does homelessness affect people and what do
  you think homeless people need?

8

• Permanent, quality, affordable, safe, suitably
  located accommodation which is wrapped in support
  as much support as is needed for as long as
  its needed.
• The provision of housing is NOT predicated
  on someone proving their housing-readiness.
  Its often referred to as a Housing First
  approach.

9

• The last 20 years has been about investing
  more effort and more money resulting in more
  homelessness and leaving workers more
  demoralised.  We have to move from managing
  homelessness to ending the disgrace.  We cant
  shuffle, cycle or harass people out of
  homelessness.  What they need is not a pill,
  program or protocol, but a place.
• Philip Mangano

10

• The safety and security needs.  When the
  physiological needs are largely taken care of,
  this second layer of needs comes into play.  You
  will become increasingly interested in finding
  safe circumstances, stability, protection. 
  Looking at it negatively, you become concerned,
  not with needs like hunger and thirst, but with
  your fears and anxieties.  In the ordinary adult,
  this set of needs manifest themselves in the form
  of our urges to have a home in a safe
  neighbourhood, a little job security and a nest
  egg, a good retirement plan and a bit of
  insurance, and so on.

11

• What services do you know of that are available
  to help homeless people?

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Inner West Case Management Team
The Inner-West Case Management Team supports
people who are homeless or at risk of
homelessness to obtain and/or sustain secure
housing. The team deliberately comprises support
workers with a diversity of relevant skills. 
Clients are supported by the entire team, not
just one worker the teams hope being to
provide from amongst its members the specialist
expertise necessary to help people break (or
prevent) the cycle of homelessness. The teams
work is with residents of Edward Eagar Lodge
offering support services during their stay,
supported pathways out of homelessness, and
support to sustain housing and improve wellbeing
beyond homelessness.  Longer term, the team will
also seek to provide support to clients who may
have no connection (nor may ever have) to EEL.
13
Noreen Towers Community

• Medium term accommodation service for families
  needed assistance for up to 9 months. Families
  can enter the program with just the clothes on
  their back and be set up with a full furnished 3
  bedroom apartment and a case worker to assist
  them moving into a permanent accommodation
  setting. The program also has a supported
  playgroup initiative that allows families to
  receive parenting training from a qualified child
  care worker who can also determine the
  developmental needs of the children

14
Central Coast ILP

• Program for 16-22 year olds who require
  assistance in living independently. The program
  teaches young people how to live independently
  through a goals approach to strength based client
  management. The program has a number of
  Department of Housing houses spread throughout
  the Central Coast area and can cater to either
  individuals or young families.

15
McKenzie Centre
A one-stop shop for the most disadvantaged people
in the community. This centre is a multi-faceted
service to the homeless. A vast array of services
are delivered from various organisations such as
CRC Justice Centrelink hold regular client
sessions Options employment help clients who
have significant barriers to employment
counselling is provided to our clients on many
issues including, addictions, finances and
relationships. Also behind the McKenzie Centre
is the Oasis, a refuge for homeless people can
meet with social workers, have something to eat,
get clothes and blankets and provide a safe
social environment. There are also showers and
clothes washing machines for people to come an
use.
16
Edward Eager Lodge
A crisis accommodation hostel situated in Bourke
St, Surry Hills with 24hr staffing. The Lodge
gives hostel accommodation for 76 single people
ranging from 18 yrs to 80 yrs for up to 3
months. Single rooms provide privacy, dignity,
personal space security for belongings. A Day
Centre operates 5 days a week and provides meals,
clothing, shower and laundry facilities,
counselling, welfare referral, television, lounge
recreational facilities. The centre attracts
about 100 people a day, who come from all
backgrounds and accommodation styles including
rough sleepers. A comprehensive support program
looks at physical, intellectual, emotional,
spiritual, vocational recreational needs. The
program incorporates A church service, Recovery
groups, Bible Discovery, Self-development, Living
skill support groups, Free counselling,
Recreational activities, Periodic in house
clinics and regular visits by the local mental
health team.
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• What factors do you think make it difficult for
  homeless people to access services and resources?

18

• Imagine trying to get a job without a permanent
  address. What obstacles would you face?
• Imagine trying to rent a house..apply for a bank
  account.
• What other services would be difficult to access?

19

• How do you think society views the homeless?

20
(No Transcript)
21

• What conflicts do you think could arise between
  homeless people and the general community?

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Homelessness General Information

• Wesley Mission
• http//www.wesleymission.org.au
• Homelessness NSW
• http//www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au
• Excellent general information and has a link,
  "Doing a project on homelessness?
• Aust Parliamentary Library http//www.aph.gov.
  au/library/intguide/sp/homeless.htm
• Policy, definitions, programs, etc
• National Youth Commission
• http//www.nyc.net.au/files/Australias_Homeless_Y
  outh.pdf
• National Youth Commission enquiry into youth
  homelessness
• Australian Clearing House for Youth Studies
  http//www.acys.info/youth_facts_and_stats/housing
  
• Aust Institute for Health and Welfare
  http//www.aihw.gov.au/housing/sacs/saap/index.cfm
  
• Information on the governments Support
  Accommodation Assistants Programs (SAAP)