Everyone is entitled to have somewhere to call home!
Social Justice Forum 9 April, 2011
Dear Conference Members I trust that this information from the Social Justice Forum will be useful in your work as Vincentians assisting those who come to us in distress because of lack of affordable housing. The information contained herein comes from the excellent discussions from the sixty five participants who enjoyed their day together. I would like to thank each participant for their presence and their generous contributions to discussion and sharing of their conference experiences in the area of homelessness and its varying causes. May this information help us to keep in mind the social teaching of the Church with respect for the dignity of each person and the importance of working for the common good. May the ideas shared enable us all to take some small steps in making known to Governments and politicians the serious lack of affordable housing in Victoria. May we continue to say loudly and clearly that:“Everyone is entitled to have … somewhere to call home” I also wish to thank the members of the Social Justice Committee for their work in preparation for the forum and for their assistance on the day. Let us all remember:- the words of Marian Wright Edelman:“You just need to be a flea against injustice. Enough committed fleas biting strategically can make even the biggest dog uncomfortable and transform even the biggest nation.” Yours sincerely Rosemary Graham Chair Victorian Social Justice Committee
A hand up not a hand out
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Homelessness Service System - An overview Presented by: Karren Walker, VincentCare Community Housing
Emergency Accommodation (purchased)
Crisis Accommodation
Transitional Housing
Public Housing
Community Housing
Private Rental
Access Points in each DHS Region
Different NGO providers in each Region, i.e. - Salvation Army EastCare - Salvation Army Social Housing Services (SASHS) - Community Housing Ltd - Hanover Southern - Westernport Accommodation & Youth Support Services (WAYSS) - Yarra Community Housing – Metrowest
State wide Homelessness Assistance
1800 825 955 Will default to nearest access point during business hours and St Kilda Crisis Centre after hours
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St Vincent de Paul Society
A recent reform to the Housing Support System, ‘Opening Doors’ establishes;
Creation of central access points in each Human Services region Client-centred system response Consistent initial assessment & referral practice Local Area Service Networks (LASN) Shared responsibility for clients across the system Reasonable care to assess & plan to address risks Prioritisation of client needs which is responsive to their changing circumstance Maximising the use of available resources Transparent advertising & allocation of available resources based on principles of ‘best-match’
Indicative Housing Data In the Northern & Western Region for the period Jan – Jun 2010 18,324 clients assessed 8,056 support periods 1,872 transitional housing tenancies
Accessing the HSS (Housing Support System)
Clients call or drop in and are ‘triaged’ according to presenting need. Clients are assessed and prioritized at first contact where possible. Emergency accommodation needs and presenting issues are addressed at first contact where possible. Planning occurs with clients to manage future needs. Priority of need can be changed to better reflect client circumstance.
A hand up not a hand out
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Referrals for Support may occur approx 4 - 10 weeks post assessment. Referrals for Transitional Housing some 3 months post support referral. Not all clients assessed as requiring support and/or transitional housing will receive it (system capacity insufficient). Clients being supported outside the HSS can still be prioritised for access to transitional housing if they have a current assessment at an access point.
Housing Options Public Housing Segmented Waiting List (4 levels) 1. Highest priority (2 year wait) need to have a social worker and have had at least 3 different addresses in the last 2 years 2. Disability (2-3 year wait) physical or psychological problems 3. “Sit & Wait” (4-7 year wait) need to live near a hospital or other health service 4. Poverty Issues (10 year wait) private rental is unaffordable. Community Housing Individual & Common Wait Lists – many co-operatives providing equity, with the Government to produce more housing units Private Rental Office of Housing (OoH) Bond Loan Limited Financial Assistance - urgent need for the Government to increase Rent Assistance
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St Vincent de Paul Society
Case Study 1 - Private Rental Conference members visited a single mother with four children who was behind in her rent payments and afraid of being evicted. She was not receiving any maintenance from the children’s father and with the high cost of private rent and increases in amenities was finding it very difficult to manage. Conference members arranged budget counselling for her and she went on to make use of Centre Pay to cover her amenities, thereby taking some control of her debts before she overwhelmed her again. This mother went on to call on us once a month for food or a voucher but life became better for her, as she took more control with the increased knowledge gained from budget counselling Summary of discussions: Conferences are encouraged to know what services and assistances
are available in their local area Parenting Payment Getting all entitlements – e.g. utilities Financial Counsellor (support them though this) Underlying issues and other pressures Support with CentreLink Rent assistance Statement from CentreLink on income payments to assist with budgeting Public housing wait list Explore the situation of the absent father Find out about children and their possible needs
A hand up not a hand out
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Case Study 2 - Public Housing This case involves a woman in her mid thirties in receipt of CentreLink payment. Her partner is on a disability pension. Due to a range of conflicts/disputes they were evicted from public housing. Conference members provided food at a friend’s house, where they took up residence. The friend did not pay rent either and they were all evicted in a few weeks. Conference members found them again: residing in a two man tent on the beach and assisted them again with food. This continued for a month until they moved into a caravan in the back yard of neighbours of her grandparents, which is now their current abode. Summary of discussions:-
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Difficult due to public housing issues
Assistance with returning to work
Support because of accommodation they are in caravan Refer to 1800 825 955 number to get into system Refer to other agencies / social workers for other needs Spend more time assessing situation to get a better understanding; keep in contact Rent assistance Centerpay may be of assistance May have case worker for partner and link in with the case worker Take to accommodation/housing agency
St Vincent de Paul Society
Case Study 3 - Homelessness A sixteen year old girl has left home due to a violent and abusive situation; she couldn’t afford rental accommodation, even on a shared basis, and has been frequently evicted. She came to the attention of Conference members when she was living on the beach with a twenty-three year old young man, whom she met casually. Both were homeless and soon became involved in drugs. When conference members met her she was four months pregnant. Conference members were able to find some emergency accommodation and assisted them with food and vouchers over several weeks. They were also provided with baby clothes and other requirements. Kylie recovered well and a healthy baby was born, but when the boyfriend went to jail she could no longer afford the rent and moved from the area. She died sometime later from a drug overdose. Summary of discussions:-
Divided into mid term and long term goals to assist Get on housing list Health care referral for up to, through and post birth Refer to social worker Refer to drug support Many services are available e.g. Maternal Child Health Service Previous counselling? Anonymous contact with DHS to seek views Concern about lack of address may limit CentreLink payment Current relationship – provide security or not? Issues there Are there ways to support partners of people in prison and on remand? – yes but up to individual conference Refer: Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (VACRO) Tel: 1800 049 871 Website Address: http://www.vacro.org.au
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Case Study 4 - Rooming House A young man from Queensland came to Victoria looking for his ex partner and his young son. Unable to get accommodation he was forced to live in shared/boarding house conditions. The lounge had been converted into two bedrooms. There were three other bedrooms all of which had separate tenants. They all share the one toilet, bathroom and kitchen facilities. Each tenant is paying $160.00 per week for rent. Conference members have to organise to “visit” this man away from his house because there is no privacy when interviewing a client. Such visits can be the cause of acrimony with other tenants or boarders. Some of our Conference Members do not feel safe visiting in circumstances like this. Summary of discussions:-
Need to respect confidentiality – arrange a safe meeting place away from the Rooming House
Why are rents so high? Relevant legislation – Refer “Rooming houses - A guide for residents” publication of Consumer Affairs Victoria Tel:1300 558 181 Website www.consumer.vic.gov.au
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Consumer Affairs – report of “dodgy” ones Encourage people to move out together - private rental Take badges off when visiting, try not to identify where we are from Dominant tenant - is this a problem? Contact on phone beforehand Need to ask what they want members to do for them Are they unhappy? We can help to seek alternatives but this may be difficult
St Vincent de Paul Society
Case Study 4 - Rooming House (cont) Inform the Local Government Council of rooming house. If registered, okay, if not – get it up to standard
Conference itself to decide if they are to keep visiting. First duty of care is to conference members
Consider covering costs for relocation back to QLD (Travelers Aid - may be able to assist.)
Seek assistance from another conference Visit once a month – BBQ in local park as a way to engage with people offsite.
Definition of rooming house is 4 rooms - refer ‘Rooming houses - A guide for residents’ see page 9)
Tenants Union of Victoria - for advice and support Tel: (03) 9411 1444
Website: www.tuv.org.au
Don’t be overwhelmed by these issues! We cannot fix everything! Resources provided to support person then evicted and they lose all resources – what to do?
Encourage residents to band together in seeking more secure affordable accommodation
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What Conferences can do to help procure affordable housing Presentation by Des McCarthy included information and strategies for bringing the statistics and local knowledge to local politicians which will highlight the difficulties being experienced by clients with housing problems. How to work with other agencies providing emergency
accommodation and assistance in the local areas - Department of Housing; Department of Human Services; Local Council? Providing some statistics about cost of private rentals in the
electorate, which are so high (55% of income in some cases) leaving people short of money for food. A strategy to approach politicians with an open letter / persistence
may be needed to obtain a response Question politicians about their party policy on affordable housing Strategies like this from all conferences may make the new State
Government more aware of the lack of affordable housing.
Some documents of importance Access to Social Housing – Auditor General’s Report Inquiry into the Adequacy & Future Directions of Public Housing
in Victoria - Oct 2010 Victorian Homelessness 2020 Strategy - September 2010
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St Vincent de Paul Society
At the end of our lives we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by: I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in. Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing - but naked of human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks - but homeless because of rejection. This is Christ in distressing disguise.
Teresa of Calcutta
Our Mission
Our Vision
The Society is a lay Catholic
The St Vincent de Paul Society
organisation that aspires to
aspires to be recognised as a
live the gospel message by
caring Catholic charity offering
serving Christ in the poor
“a hand up� to people in need.
with love, respect, justice,
We do this by respecting their
hope and joy, and by working
Dignity, sharing our hope, and
to shape a more just and
Encouraging them to take
compassionate society.
control of their own destiny.