Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged ACHA

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Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged
(ACHA)

• Ben Huxtable
• Southside Community Services Inc

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Southside Community Services Inc

• Located in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
  (ACT), Australia.
• Population 350,000.
• Community based not for profit, non-government
  organisation.
• Dedicated to excellence in community service is
  our mission statement.

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Southside Community Service Inc Programs

• Home And Community Care (HACC) including
  Intensive Needs, Croatian and Multicultural
  Access Program Case Managers
• Family Support
• Community Development
• Child Care Facilities
• Optimum Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

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Housing Crisis

• Housing affordability is at its worst in living
  memory.
• Many people are unable to find suitable
  accommodation.

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Waiting Times
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Housing Problems for the Aged

• Many elderly are at risk.
• Growing number of elderly people in Australia.
• Fixed incomes, such as the Aged Pension. Unable
  to afford private rent.
• Unable to find suitable accommodation to support
  their needs.
• Public Housing unable to supply the demand.

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ACHA Beginnings

• The Department of Health Ageing.
• Federally Funded to all state governments.
• Southside Community Services Inc, Canberra ACT
  has adopted this program in 1996.

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The Aims of the ACHA Program

• To provide advocacy for the aged.
• Negotiate on behalf of the aged to get access to
  affordable Housing.
• Assist in the negotiation of improvements of
  current housing situation.
• Referral to other support links when needed.

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Eligibility for the ACHA Program

• Be more than 55 years or more,
• On a low income,
• Homeless, living insecurely in private rental
  accommodation or public housing.

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Where some of our Clients come From

• Self Refer,
• Community Service Providers,
• Doctors and
• Family Friends.

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Positive Aspects of the ACHA Program

• Clients feel more in control of their situation.
• Clients fill out the application forms correctly.
• Housing properties are assigned to the most ideal
  tenant.
• Waiting times for a client waiting for a Housing
  property are cut through ACHA involvement.

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Statistical Information

• Referral frequency,
• Current list of clients,
• Success rate.

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Difficulties encountered by the ACHA Program

• Waiting times.
• Social Isolation of Clients.
• Awareness of the ACHA Program within the
  community service sector.

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Case Scenario

• David.
• Living in temporarily secure accommodation.
• Limited Time Frame.
• Forced to seek alternatives.

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Case Study Outcome

• Living in secure shared housing for the aged,
• More socially active within the community.

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What does the Future Hold?

• More need for the ACHA Program.
• Promotion of the ACHA Program.