Page 3678 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 21 November 2006
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At this point, I reflect on some of the approaches I have received in my office over the last two years from Mrs Burke. I think all of the cases for which she sought my intercession to have a higher priority accorded to those who contacted her office fit within those groups. This is not about people waiting too long; they were people in distress waiting too long, which is what our priority is about.
These changes to PRHAP require the best possible utilisation of Housing ACT properties. Some properties are by necessity temporarily vacant, either because they are hard to let or they are waiting to be redeveloped. The transitional housing program uses those properties that are habitable and available on a short to medium-term basis to house people who are identified as ready to move on from crisis services and make use of short-term accommodation with the appropriate outreach support. The properties will be available to SAAP clients on a three to six-month basis to assist and encourage clients to achieve their goal of independent living.
The transitional program will also increase the availability of crisis accommodation in homelessness services by allowing those people who are no longer in crisis to move to more independent living with outreach support. The transitional program will free up the crisis beds for those people who need the intensive support. Those entering the transitional housing program will do so with supports, goals and strategies identified and in place to achieve longer term independent living. The strategies will include having an identified exit point. This program thus provides a range of benefits. The community sector has a greater range of housing options available for community members moving on from crisis and consequently more crisis accommodation for those who need it. The community also knows that the ACT government is using its housing stock in the most effective way and people in need of housing assistance have more options available to meet their needs.
People who are experiencing homelessness need a range of effective responses as they move through crisis towards independent living in the community. We need to build these responses into a coordinated and seamless pathway that assists people at every stage of the process. The ACT homelessness services sector provides accommodation and support to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. A majority of people in receipt of this support initially access a SAAP crisis service. Current reform of the ACT homelessness services sector includes mapping the sector’s responses to create an integrated service system that addresses clients’ needs along this pathway. This reform work has identified the need for more transitional options to assist people who no longer require intensive crisis support.
The transitional housing program provides secure medium-term housing once the initial crisis has passed. The programs generally require people entering the program to plan and access the supports they need to develop their skills and strategies. Most of these services use a case management approach to ensure these plans allow for the best possible outcomes for clients.
The transitional program we have initiated here in the ACT follows the best practice leads of other jurisdictions. People will be referred to the program from the SAAP agency that has supported them through crisis. Eligibility is dependent on that agency and/or other community services engaging with the client and providing case
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