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Elizabeth Street Common Ground 5Th Anniversary Elizabeth Street Common Ground 5th Anniversary “ I’ve been five years now… very dubious at the start. At the moment, I’ve got so much positivity in me. I’m achieving things I couldn’t even dream about before.” — Tex, tenant Introduction Five years ago, Elizabeth Street Common Ground opened its doors and became home to 65 Melburnians in desperate need of housing and support. The 11-storey residential building and untreated health issues, police was the first of its kind to be purpose- intervention and incarceration. For most, built in Melbourne, designed to house life was about day-to-day survival. Their and support the most vulnerable and lives were often characterised by chaos, disadvantaged people in our community. addiction, eviction, uncertainty, family violence, abuse, isolation and despair. It marked the culmination of more than three years of planning, development, Most have embraced the opportunity fundraising and building by HomeGround to get their lives on track, and while Services (now Launch Housing), Yarra some have had to leave, many stay on Community Housing, the Victorian and and continue to contribute to their new Federal Governments, construction community. company Grocon and a committed group We’d like to thank our staff, supporters, of private companies, philanthropists and tenants and all those who have made community service organisations. Elizabeth Street Common Ground a It is almost impossible to overstate the reality. importance of the first five years of this It’s been challenging for us all, but we’ve ambitious supportive housing project: learned important lessons about the lives have been saved, and changed for Common Ground supportive housing the better. model and how it works best in our city. Not only have the tenants been given It has proven to be a sustainable and an opportunity to live in a safe, secure, successful model from which other healthy and affordable home but their innovative solutions can be developed. on-site access to medical and health We look forward to a bright future for professionals, inclusion in a thriving Elizabeth Street Common Ground, and community, and a range of learning to developing further supportive housing opportunities have restored confidence, opportunities so no Victorian is left health, and prospects for a brighter without housing. future. Before Elizabeth Street Common Ground, Neil Chatfield tenants routinely endured the dangers of Chair of the Board sleeping rough, frequent trips to hospital Launch Housing emergency departments, undiagnosed October 2015 Fast facts Elizabeth Street Common Ground No1 192 Opened September 2010 First supportive housing tenants over five years; of its kind in Melbourne 65 current tenants 21 33 131 months months Average length of stay for Average length of stay modern studio apartments all tenants (to June 2015) for current tenants and 30 two-bedroom apartments across 11 floors Based on successful 6 US supportive 200+ housing model, Common Ground environmental rating referrals for the first intake (New York) of tenants in 2010 Of the current 65 tenants as at September 2015 27–72 66% 91% 72% years live with a combination reported mental reported substance age range of mental illness and health as a major issue use as a major issue substance use Key components of Common Ground projects Affordable – with rents set at a Permanent maximum of 30% of housing for single income for tenants people – offering self- Safe housing – who have experienced contained, high quality 24/7 controlled homelessness accommodation access to the building, with round-the-clock concierge and support staff A social mix of tenants – On-site support to ensure a mixed, services – to help thriving community, people settle into 50% who have experienced and maintain their homelessness and 50% housing low income earners “I work at ESCG because I believe “I feel Elizabeth Street Common in the Common Ground model. Ground is an incredible housing It seems logical that a way to service that celebrates the solve homelessness is to provide health and happiness of each permanent housing and help and every resident; where people people keep it. I love ESCG as I am are respected and welcomed, working with colleagues who are and diversity and individuality is passionate about their roles and rightly celebrated, irrespective dedicated to making the model of income or disability. It is also work. I will be advocating for a place where people are offered ‘Housing First’ models like this an opportunity to access safe, for the rest of my life.” affordable, good quality housing — Tim, Senior Support Worker which they can hopefully make their home, and further pursue their ambitions and dreams.” — Alistair, YCH Tenancy Services Our statistics Elizabeth Street Common Ground average stay Current tenants Average tenure 27.4 (months) Number of tenants 64 Past tenants 16.2 117 Past and current tenants 20.2 181 Current tenants – length of tenure “Living at ESCG has changed 2 my life. I no longer feel or am a burden on services or people. For me, Elizabeth Street Common 15 18 Ground has been the only safe place I have ever lived, been cared about, supported, protected, guided and encouraged to start 5 living and not just existing.” — Doddy, tenant 15 9 “I love the unpredictably, 0–1 year uniqueness and personal 1–2 years satisfaction I receive every day, not 2–3 years only from the residents, but from 3–4 years my beautiful team.” 4–5 years — Lisa, Senior Support Worker 5 years+ Our history “It’s a hundred percent better than being homeless, on the streets… I love it here.” — Joe, tenant Based on a successful US model, Elizabeth Street Common Ground (ESCG) was the first supportive housing project of its kind in Melbourne, and only the second in Australia. It was the realisation of a vision Key early supporters were the Victorian shared by HomeGround Services Government and construction company (now Launch Housing) and Yarra Grocon. Others quickly came on board Community Housing for a supportive including the Federal Government, housing project that would offer safe, Melbourne City Council, Rotary Club of affordable and permanent housing and Melbourne, the John T Reid Charitable services for people experiencing chronic Trust, the Collie Foundation, the Helen homelessness and severe disadvantage. Macpherson Smith Trust, Royal District Nursing Service Homeless Persons For many years, HomeGround had seen Program, Melbourne General Practice an increasing number of these people Network, Centre for Adult Education, cycling through the homelessness Wesley Mission, Green Collect, the and health systems, without any hope Brotherhood of St Laurence, the of achieving the secure housing and University of NSW and a host of allied supports they needed. Their only health practitioners. accommodation options were rooming houses, short-term motel stays, couch- The project was announced in May 2008 surfing with friends and family, or and construction was completed in sleeping rough. August 2010. A broad partnership encompassing Elizabeth Street Common Ground opened government departments, more than 50 on 6 September 2010 and by November private companies, leading philanthropists that year, all 131 single studio apartments and a range of community services and were tenanted. organisations responded. They worked Since then, similar developments have for more than three years to develop opened in Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart, the concept, source funding, find an Adelaide, Port Augusta and Canberra. appropriate site, identify and invite potential tenants, and manage the myriad of details involved with building such an ambitious project from the ground up. Othman, tenant Allan, tenant “ On behalf of those who have lived and died at Elizabeth Street Common Ground, I want to thank you for your contribution in providing safe and secure housing, which in turn has given dignity to lives ended or impacted all too tragically by the experience of homelessness.” — Camille, ESCG Manager Feven, Peter W, tenant tenant Highlights “My experience since living at Common Ground is that I have ceased seeking help from the different housing services, transitional housing, emergency accommodation, domestic violence services, and churches. I no longer need to access services for material aid; food vans, soup kitchens, vouchers or counselling. The monetary cost of being reliant on these services must be huge – perhaps someone could work this out and see how effective Common Ground is.” — Doddy, tenant 6 6 September 2010 November 2010 first tenant moves in full occupancy completed Ongoing dedication by (and remains here to (65 tenants) professional health and care this day!) workers including a General Practitioner, Royal District Nursing Service nurse, masseuse and Community Care Aid November 2010 45 Centre for Adult Education tenants (CAE) learning program established onsite offering SpecSavers pro bono June 2011 foundation and pre-accredited donation of eye testing and learning opportunities and provision of eyewear to Prime Minister courses 45 tenants Kevin Rudd visits “Being part of a healing and nurturing team promoting positive change and self- development is what keeps me here.” — Yvette, Masseuse Challenges and successes The first 18 months of operation “The personal highlight for me were particularly challenging, has been the story of a tenant and a steep learning curve for who was so anxious and tearful everyone. during assessment that I thought he was going to walk out and There were a number of critical never return. With support from incidents, including some evictions. our team, he didn’t walk out. Launch Housing and Yarra Community He stayed and made his home Housing staff worked closely during this around him. Now, I can’t imagine period to develop a range of policies and the place without him.” procedures to ensure that the safety — Greg, ESCG Coordinator of tenants was maintained, and that problems were dealt with early so that evictions could be averted wherever possible. We developed stricter visitor management Reason for exit policies, which had, and continue to have, a positive influence on the Elizabeth 9 3 22 Street Common Ground community.
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