INNER-CITY SYDNEY ABORIGINAL HOMELESS RESEARCH PROJECT VOLUME 1 by Paul Memmott, Catherine Chambers, Angie Pitts, Richard Green and Pam Ingram PAUL MEMMOTT & ASSOCIATES in conjunction with the Aboriginal Environments Research Centre, University of Queensland I.B. Fell Research Centre, University of Sydney Final Report 3 March 2005 3 March 2005 LIST OF CONTENTS VOLUME 1 List of Abbreviations & Acronyms ......................................................................................................................................................iii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................................................................iv Executive Summary – Inner-City Sydney Aboriginal Homeless Project...........................................................................................v CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................................................1 NSW Partnership Against Homelessness Initiative .............................................................................................................................................................1 Study Aims ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................1 Working Definition of Study Area and Study Target Groups..............................................................................................................................................2 Project Methodology ............................................................................................................................................................................................................3 Progressive and summative evaluation of research (Stages 1 to 4)......................................................................................................................................5 Expected Outcomes ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................8 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE ANALYSIS FINDINGS .............................................................................................................................................10 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................10 Categories of Indigenous Homelessness ............................................................................................................................................................................10 The At-Risk-of-Homelessness / Hidden Homelessness Category .....................................................................................................................................12 Spiritually Homeless ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................15 Summary of Categories of Indigenous Homelessness .......................................................................................................................................................16 Practice Responses to Indigenous Public Place Dwelling and Homelessness ...................................................................................................................18 Conclusion on Response Categories ..................................................................................................................................................................................20 Implications for the Current Study .....................................................................................................................................................................................21 CHAPTER 3: PROFILES OF SERVICE PROVIDERS ...........................................................................................................................................23 Chapter Aims and Methods ................................................................................................................................................................................................23 Listing of the Organisations Profiled According to Response Categories .........................................................................................................................23 3.1 Legislative (Policy) and Police Approaches.........................................................................................................................................................24 3.2 Patrols and Outreach Services..............................................................................................................................................................................24 3.3 Diversionary Strategies ........................................................................................................................................................................................26 34. Addressing Anti-Social Behaviour.......................................................................................................................................................................26 3.5 Philosophies of Client Interaction ........................................................................................................................................................................27 3.6 Alcohol & Drug Strategies ...................................................................................................................................................................................27 3.7 Regional Strategies...............................................................................................................................................................................................29 3.8 Accommodation Options (Crisis or Emergency, Medium Term & Long Term).................................................................................................29 3.9 Dedicated Service Centres and Gathering Places.................................................................................................................................................33 3.10 The Physical Design of Public Places .................................................................................................................................................................34 3.11 Education Strategies for Non-Indigenous People................................................................................................................................................34 3.12 Phone-in Services ................................................................................................................................................................................................34 3.13 Skills and Training for Field and Outreach Workers ..........................................................................................................................................35 3.14 Partnerships .........................................................................................................................................................................................................35 3.15 Holistic Approaches ............................................................................................................................................................................................36 Discussion of Service Provision Gaps................................................................................................................................................................................38 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS FROM INTERVIEWS AND FIELD RESEARCH .......................................................................................................42 Chapter Aim .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................42 Profiles of Aboriginal Public Place Dwelling Groups Encountered in the Study..............................................................................................................42 Analysis of Interviews with Public Place Dwelling and Insecurely Housed Aboriginal Persons......................................................................................48 Conclusion..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................54 CHAPTER 5: CASE STUDIES OF HOMELESS PEOPLE & PATHWAYS IN AND PATHWAYS OUT ........................................................62 Public Place Dwellers.........................................................................................................................................................................................................62 Case Study 1................................................................................................................................................................................................................62