Background
In November 2019, the Premier and the Minister for Community Services launched All Paths Lead to a Home: Western Australia’s 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020–2030 (the Strategy). The Strategy seeks to introduce a Housing First approach to homelessness that prioritises getting people into permanent housing with flexible and tailored supports to follow. This is seen as a key foundation of the system change needed to end chronic homelessness.
Alongside the launch of the Strategy, funding was announced to deliver the Housing First Homelessness Initiative. The Housing First Homelessness Initiative (HFHI) is a discrete initiative under the Strategy that provides and wrap around support to people sleeping rough in the Perth Metropolitan Area, Rockingham/Mandurah, Bunbury and Geraldton.
The Housing First Principles for Australia are:
- People have a right to a home.
- Housing and support are separated.
- Flexible support for as long as needed.
- Choice and self-determination.
- Active engagement without coercion.
- Social and community inclusion.
- Recovery orientated practice.
- Harm reduction approach.
The Housing First Homelessness Initiative (HFHI) includes:
- The Housing First System Coordinator
- The Housing First Support Services – Metropolitan and Regional, including a specialist Aboriginal Housing First Support Service.
- An Evaluation of the Housing First Homelessness Initiative.
The Housing First System Coordinator
The Housing First System Coordinator is responsible for the overall coordination of the HFHI across the identified Locations. The Housing First System Coordinator is responsible for information sharing protocols to ensure information is shared in a timely manner and supports services through complimentary protocols to aid in service delivery.
The Housing First Support Services
The Housing First Support Services (HFSS) seek to ensure people who are sleeping rough are assisted to find and maintain suitable accommodation and housing. The HFSS works closely with the Housing First System Coordinator and other services throughout the sector to ensure that appropriate accommodation and housing is sought, and the right support is in place to help people sustain their housing and not cycle back into homelessness. The HFSS includes a specialist Aboriginal service that has developed and delivers its services in line with Noongar Housing First Principles.
