City Homeless Framework Committee Action Plan 2
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City Homeless Framework Committee Action Plan 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY We acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people, Traditional Owners of the lands and waters where the City of Perth is today and pay our respects to Elders past and present. ALTERNATIVE FORMATS An electronic version of the City Homeless City of Perth Telephone: (08) 9461 3333 Framework Committee Action Plan is available from 27 St Georges Terrace, Perth Email: [email protected] www.perth.wa.gov.au. This document can be provided GPO Box C120, Perth WA 6839 in alternate formats and languages upon request. 3 Message from Deputy Commissioner I am pleased to join with my co-chair of the City I am delighted to see early progress being made by Homeless Framework Committee, Mr John Carey MLA extending the operating hours of a homelessness day State Member for Perth, to present the City Homeless centre, the establishment of a safe night space, the Framework Committee Action Plan. implementation of a co-ordinated assertive outreach Internationally, nationally and locally, homelessness is service and the longer term development of a “Common identified as a highly complex issue and consequently Ground” type model of highly supported accommodation. it requires an integrated approach by all levels of The action plan provides a further opportunity to align Government. As such the City of Perth acknowledges it with and support the strategic direction of the WA has a shared responsibility with the State Government of Alliance to End Homelessness’ 10-year strategy, to end Western Australia to end inner city homelessness. homelessness in Western Australia by 2029. Gaye McMath Through the development of the City Homeless I acknowledge and thank my co-chair Mr John Carey for Deputy Commissioner, Framework Committee Action Plan, I have been personally the dedication and passion he brought to the Committee. City of Perth involved meeting with the Perth homelessness sector to I would also like to personally thank all the individuals identify key actions to be taken by all levels government, involved who represented some 50 groups working on service providers and industry bodies. homelessness, including the City of Perth staff, for the The City Homeless Framework Committee Action outstanding level of collaboration, insight and leadership Plan includes 34 actions, short, medium and long term, brought to developing the shared action plan. across 4 key themes: The City of Perth commits to continue working • The Accreditation Process collaboratively with others to ending homelessness • The No Wrong Door Concept in Perth. • Aligning the Homelessness Sector • Research 4 Message from John Carey MLA Over the last sixteen months I have been deeply As part of the action plan, the City of Perth honoured to work with so many dedicated homeless is rolling out a new accreditation system for service providers, City staff, and Commissioner homelessness service groups around dedicated McMath to develop the City Homeless Framework precincts in the city to better consolidate efforts. Committee Action Plan. The State Government is also responding to the recommendations of the plan, by providing With around 50 groups working on homelessness funding to expand the current Tranby Hub, to in the city, it is critical that we better harness this seven days a week, from 7am to 7pm, as a referral incredible effort in the most effective way. point for outreach workers and WA Police. That is why this action plan has been created: to For the first time in our State’s history the State John Carey drive a more coordinated approach to addressing Government and the capital City will have MLA homelessness in the city, by focusing on practical coordinated action plans and targeted resourcing changes and concrete outcomes. to tackle homelessness. There’s plenty more to do, but the goal is very clear: shifting the focus from managing homelessness, to ending it in our city. 5 6 Background The 2017 Perth City Summit, coordinated by John Carey MLA, identified a need to bring key services and not-for-profit leaders, representatives from local and state government agencies, MISSION STATEMENT: together to provide a coherent strategy for homelessness services in the inner city. This is key to avoid duplication, ensure better To develop a coherent framework for integration, to target finite resources, and to identify gaps in the delivery of homelessness services current service delivery. in the inner city; to identify and resolve The City Homeless Framework Committee was formed out coordination and duplication problems; to of the Perth City Summit to address the critical issue of homelessness within the inner city. The Committee is co-chaired identify gaps between service providers, by Commissioner McMath and John Carey MLA and consists of government agencies, and the diverse the homeless sector’s key stakeholders including not-for-profits, communities they aim to serve; and, to government and non-government organisations. optimise current resource and funding. Co-Chairs Gaye McMath City of Perth Deputy Commissioner John Carey MLA Perth 7 Committee Members HOMELESS HEALTHCARE WE IA S T AL E R R T N A U S 8 Objectives 1 2 Develop a Homelessness Framework/ Establish a framework for the investment in Strategy/Plan for the City: homelessness services within the City of Perth: » Conduct an audit of the current services provided to » Identify priority areas for investment to address people experiencing homelessness within the City of fragmentation of services provided to people experiencing Perth and City of Vincent. homelessness. » Identify duplication and gaps in current services » Develop guiding principles for investment in services provided to people experiencing homelessness. for people experiencing homelessness, including a requirement for service investment to link to pathways » Identify key areas for action and ‘quick wins’ with an out of homelessness. emphasis on the housing first approach. » Establish a process or regulatory system to ensure » Identify how the plan can sit within the broader future investment is aligned with the priority areas WA Alliance to End Homelessness Strategy to end and guiding principles. rough sleeping in Western Australia, and a State Government Homelessness Strategy. 9 The Committee initiated three working groups consisting of the homelessness sector’s key stakeholders to identify current problems and potential solutions to current inner city 3 homelessness trends and issues. These working groups were divided into: • Coordination of services into a housing plus model; Bring together service providers, local • Coordination of services within the inner city; and government, state government, and • Unsolicited distribution of goods and services in private organisations to work together the inner city. to end homelessness: The three working groups met on a fortnightly basis from July 2018 – September 2018. The findings of the working » Identify opportunities to work with existing groups groups clarified systemic breakdowns from a front-line such as the WA Alliance to End Homelessness, perspective. Shelter WA and Homelessness Australia. Consistent themes and opportunities were identified with » Establish strong relationships with new partners, the most urgent being the need for sector collaboration and including private organisations, as a foundation for the development and strengthening of structures to support future action. collaboration. 10 City Homeless Framework Committee Timeline 2017 2018 2018 2018 OCTOBER FEBRUARY MAY JULY – SEPTEMBER Initial meeting with City of Lord Mayor, Lisa Scaffidi and Commissioner Gaye McMath Fortnightly meetings were Perth and John Carey MLA to John Carey MLA co-Chair and John Carey MLA co-Chair held for the three established discuss homelessness within first committee meeting on 20 second committee meeting, working groups. Each working the City of Perth. Discussions February 2018 at Parliament whereby three working groups group identified key themes centred around forming a House. Members from the were created from within the and opportunities to address joint City of Perth / State following organisations were committee, based on priority current and future issues. Government mechanism, to in attendance: Anglicare WA, areas for coordination of develop an appropriate strategy City of Perth, City of Vincent, homeless services: and policy. Foundation Housing, Royal 1. Coordination of services Perth Hospital, RUAH, Salvation into a housing plus model; Army, St Bartholomew’s House, 2. Coordination of services St Vincent de Paul, UnitingCare within the inner city; and West and Wungening 3. Unsolicited distribution of Aboriginal Corporation. goods and services in the inner city. 11 2018 2018 2019 2019 OCTOBER DECEMBER FEBRUARY MAY City Homeless Framework City Homeless Framework City Homeless Framework City Homeless Framework Committee meeting held at Committee meeting held at Committee Action Plan Committee sent letter and Council House and reviewed Council House to finalise action presented to the City Homeless action plan to Minister for progress of working groups plan and assign responsibilities Framework Committee for Child Protection; Women’s and the developing collective to lead organisation. endorsement. The action plan Interests; Prevention of action plan. was unanimously endorsed. Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services, Simone McGurk, to be considered for incorporation in to the State Government’s 10 year Strategy on Homelessness in