NSW Aboriginal Housing Office

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• Homelessness Pilot Project (HPP)

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HPP Project

• The creation of the HPP Project Officer position
  allows AHO to assist Aboriginal Organisations to
  address the needs of Homeless people within their
  community

• To co-ordinate and develop linkages with key
  government agencies
• To assist the Regional Aboriginal Housing
  Committees (RAHC) to develop innovative
  responses to the special needs of homeless people
  in their region

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Objectives of the HPP

• To assist Aboriginal communities to identify
  homelessness issues.
• To assist Aboriginal communities to identify
  homeless target groups
• To assist Aboriginal communities in developing
  strategies to assist the homeless

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Outcomes of the HPP

• Aboriginal organisations/ communities will become
  pro-active in addressing homelessness
  (empowerment)
• Local Councils and the wider community will
  become more responsible for assisting the
  Aboriginal community address homelessness

• Pilot models and service options aimed at target
  groups in the identified communities.
• Aboriginal communities will develop ongoing
  strategies to address homelessness.

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Outcomes of the HPP Continued

• Key government agencies will develop a more
  creative response to Aboriginal homelessness
  issues, taking into account cultural beliefs, and
  concepts of homelessness (spiritual overcrowding
  and transient)

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Concerns of the Homelessness Project Officer (HPO)

• The majority of Aboriginal homelessness is hidden
  within our cultural and family obligations
  therefore there is little evidence as to the
  extent of homelessness within Australia or the
  Torres Strait Islands

• In comparison to population Aboriginal people are
  the largest users of SAAP services
• Aboriginal people use SAAP services at least 3
  times before they exit into permanent
  accommodation

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HPO Concerns continued

• SAAP services are not addressing the cultural
  needs of Aboriginal people.
• Aboriginal people see SAAP services as
  accommodation only
• Lack of Identified positions discourage
  Aboriginal people from using SAAP services

• The majority of Aboriginal people presenting at
  SAAP services have complex needs yet, their needs
  for services other than shelter are placed in the
  too hard basket unless they have an Aboriginal
  worker who will work with the client

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Albury / Wodonga Homelessness Project
The concept is to allow for an intermediate
stage where clients are able to learn living
skills. This project will be based on a
partnership with SAAP and Aboriginal Hostels
Limited Victoria making it an innovative project
and the first of its kind in NSW

• Woomera A/C is interested in establishing an
  Aboriginal transient hostel to service the Albury
  / Wodonga area.

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Nowra Womens Project

• The Nowra and surrounding communities identified
  that a service was needed to address issues in
  relation to homeless Aboriginal women with
  children. Through research and consultation with
  the Aboriginal community and relevant
  organisations the Medium-term Aboriginal
  Assistance Accommodation (MAAA) model was
  proposed.
• AHO provided two houses for the project.

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Nowra Womens Project continued

• This proposal is a pilot model and brings
  together five organisations working together to
  address homelessness issues in the Nowra
  community AHO, Waminda Aboriginal Womens Health
  and Welfare Centre (manages and provides
  support), Nowra Womens Housing (assist in the
  management and support the women) Nowra Womens
  Refuge (refer clients) and
• Department of Community Services provided
  furnishings for the houses

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Nowra Youths Project

• The proposed service will provide short to
  medium term accommodation that will support and
  assist homeless or at risk of being homeless
  Aboriginal young people to establish themselves
  and get back on their feet. They will have
  skilled support through the manager and
  caseworkers as well as links into local support
  services.

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Other Projects

• Bunyah Local Aboriginal Land Council Wauchope
• Assisted the Penrith community in applying for
  funding to employ an Aboriginal Project Officer

• Provided advice and support for CAP funding to
• The Mac Silver Centre to apply for CAP funding to
  use as exit points.
• Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Womens Legal Service

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• Homelessness Pilot Project (HPP)

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Guidelines for Communities seeking assistance to
develop strategies addressing Aboriginal
homelessness

• The purpose of these guidelines is to set out the
  consultative and coordination mechanisms to
  support the Homelessness Project Officer (HPO) in
  the management of the program within the NSW
  Aboriginal Housing Office.

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• Introduction
• The HPO has expertise in Aboriginal Homelessness
  issues and can work with communities in
  developing strategies to address homelessness
  issues in their community
• Please note The AHO do not have funds to provide
  operational cost of projects, however, the HPO
  will be able to provide advice and direction in
  relation to appropriate funding bodies.
• Objectives of the HPP are
• To co-ordinate and develop linkages with other
  key government agencies
• To assist AHOs Regional Aboriginal Housing
  Committees to develop innovative responses to the
  special needs of homeless people in their region
• To assist Aboriginal communities to identify
  homelessness issues
• To assist Aboriginal communities to identify
  homeless target groups
• To assist Aboriginal communities in developing
  strategies to address homelessness

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Steps for the community to complete before
contacting the HPO at AHO.

• Have called a community meeting to discuss
  homelessness issues in their community
• Nominated an advisory committee
• Nominated a spokesperson from the working party
  that AHO can maintain regular contact with
• Have a knowledge of the community resources
• Have a general idea of the people they would most
  like to assist.
• Have contacted the Regional Aboriginal Housing
  Committee (RACH) and sought their advice and
  support
• OR
• Upon the RAHC prioritising a project they will
  formally seek assistance for the project through
  the Homelessness Project Officer.

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Role of the Community Advisory Committee

• Arrange meetings as required
• Be open to advice / ideas and or suggestions that
  the HPO will submit
• Be willing to form partnerships with other key
  government agencies
• Will work together with the HPO to develop the
  proposed strategies
• When calling meetings one weeks notice must be
  given

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• If strategies are accepted the Advisory committee
  will
• Take the options back to the community for final
  approval, the HPO will be in attendance to answer
  any questions and explain the preferred option
• If strategies are accepted the HPO will
• Follow correct cultural protocol
• Listen to the community needs
• Take direction from the advisory committee
• Undertake research as required
• Assist the Advisory committee to develop
  strategies
• Provide advice on partnership options
• Not identify names or addresses of people we
  consulted with
• Keep sensitive material confidential

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• If project options are accepted HPO will
• Seek to develop partnerships with the key
  government agencies
• Seek funding options
• Assist in writing funding submissions with the
  steering committee
• Will assist in the preparation of a Memorandum of
  Understanding between agencies
• Assist in writing policies, procedures and a
  management plan for the proposed service
• If appropriate assist and advise on the design of
  accommodation.