Page 4428 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 30 October 2018
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those people needing a hand up. We will explore different occupancy and ownership models, like community title for cooperative housing developments.
The ACT has a strong history of working with the community sector to provide services for the most vulnerable. For example, at a time when homelessness rose nationally by 11 per cent, homelessness in the ACT dropped by eight per cent, between the 2011 and 2016 census. Between 2015-16 and 2016-17 the ACT saw a significant reduction—a decrease of 306 individuals—in the number of people who presented to homelessness services who were already experiencing homelessness.
Despite this strong foundation and the incredible commitment of the ACT community, there is no doubt that there are people on low incomes and experiencing disadvantage who remain left behind in the current housing market. The first step towards a secure and affordable home is getting permanent housing. For this reason the strategy includes a priority of helping people who are facing or experiencing homelessness.
There are many different experiences of homelessness, including temporarily living with friends or relatives or living in supported accommodation or boarding houses with little or no security. Those who have experienced homelessness and those who have delivered support to the homeless come to this problem with unique insights and a deep understanding of the individual, social and economic factors which lead it.
Building on the successes of services like OneLink, which was expanded in the 2018 budget, the strategy will continue the co-design of new policies, programs and services to tackle homelessness. The ACT government funds critical initial assistance for around 300 people on any given day, through supported accommodation such as crisis accommodation and women’s shelters. We will continue this vital work and look to address gaps. For example, in anticipation of the strategy, this year’s budget committed more money—$6.54 million—to support new and emerging groups who are more vulnerable to homelessness and financial stress, including older women, refugees and asylum seekers.
Women, children and families escaping violence is still a major reason for Canberrans experiences homelessness. Moreover, substantial evidence shows that early intervention and prevention works. It is less costly and can arrest the potential intergenerational impacts of homelessness. So the strategy includes continued action across the government and the broader community sector to strengthen and bolster our response to family and domestic violence.
The strategy will also see the government continue to step in and invest in providing pathways out of homelessness. It will do this through the principles of Housing First, because the experience of becoming and being homeless often exacerbates a person’s existing mental and physical health issues and the impacts of past trauma.
Common Ground, a Housing First approach, has been received well in Canberra, and the ACT government’s continued support for this model is reflected in the strategy. A second Common Ground site in Dickson will build on the success of the Gungahlin site to provide permanent housing for chronically homeless Canberrans and affordable rental units for people facing hardship in the private market.
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