HomelessnessParklets Strategy 2020-2022Guidelines Welcome and acknowledgement of Country City of Stirling kaadatj Nyoongar moort Nyoongar boodja-k Wadjak boodja-k, Mooro boodja-k. Ngalak kaadatj Nyoongar nedingar wer birdiya, baalap barn boodja-k wer kaaratj boodja-k koora koora wer yeyi. Ngalak kaadatj baalabang malayin wer nakolak baalap yang ngalany-al City of Stirling dandjoo Nyoongar moort-al kolbang koorliny. The City of Stirling acknowledges the Wadjak People of the Nyoongar Nation as the traditional custodians of Mooro Country. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes for Aboriginal Australia. “ There is no single Background cause or solution to homelessness.” What is homelessness? How do people become homeless? The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) The causes of homelessness are numerous and definition states that when a person does not complex. Contributing factors that increase the have suitable accommodation alternatives, they risk of homelessness are classified as ‘causal are considered homeless if their current living factors’ and these include: arrangement: • Financial stressors, including poverty, lack • Is in a dwelling that is inadequate or of affordable housing and available rental housing, lack of superannuation in retirement , • Has no tenure, or if their initial tenure and cost of living pressures is short and not extendable or • Vulnerability of people exiting facilities such • Does not allow them to have control of, as prison, care facilities, hospitals, and drug and access to space for social relations. and alcohol treatment • Health including physical, mental, and disability • System failures and structural factors • Individual circumstances , including family Being homeless and domestic violence, discrimination, Mayor’s Message addictions, and traumatic events and is not a crime. • Global events including pandemics, war, As the Mayor of the City of Stirling, This strategy will not work in isolation, it economic collapse. I am pleased to present our first requires all levels of government, industry, and community to work collaboratively. Homelessness Strategy 2020-2022. The City’s strategy aligns with the Department This plan outlines the City’s vision and of Communities’ ‘All Paths Lead to a Home: responsibilities in supporting people at risk of, Western Australia’s 10 Year Strategy on or experiencing homelessness. Homelessness 2020 - 2030.’ The City’s strategy also aligns with our Strategic Community Plan. Homelessness is a complex and increasing issue at a national, state, and local level. I invite you to play an active role in achieving our vision that all community members in the Industry trends indicate that local governments City of Stirling are supported to find a safe are playing an increasingly important role in place of their choice to call home. supporting local responses to the needs of people experiencing homelessness. “There is no single cause or solution to homelessness.” Mark Irwin Homelessness can happen at any time, to anyone. Mayor 4 | Homelessness Strategy: 2020-2022 Homelessness Strategy: 2020-2022 | 5 Homelessness in the City of Stirling Homelessness is a complex and The second highest local government area increasing issue at a national, state, was Perth with 464, followed by: and local level. • Shire of Derby-West Kimberley – 424 • City of Gosnells – 399 According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) definition people who fall • City of Wanneroo – 367 into the following categories are considered • City of Swan – 355 homeless: people living in improvised dwellings, tents or sleeping out, people in supported • City of Fremantle – 330 accommodation for the homeless, people • City of Canning – 326 staying temporarily with other households, • City of Cockburn – 307 and people living in boarding houses, people living in temporary lodgings and people living in • Shire of East Pilbara – 297, severely crowded dwellings. rounding out the top ten. Statistics from the 2016 Census identified These figures demonstrate a significant that there were 520 people experiencing increase from the 2011 Census, when the City homelessness in the City of Stirling, the highest of Stirling recorded 417 people experiencing local government figure in Western Australia. homelessness. The City of Stirling’s role Local governments play a key role in • Working with Police to support and refer connecting and supporting individuals, people experiencing homelessness to local services and supports communities, service providers and government agencies. • Coordinating volunteer and charity groups through a place-based approach that better meets the needs of people experiencing The Department of Communities ‘All Paths homelessness Lead to a Home: Western Australia’s 10 Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020 – 2030’ states • Utilising land and assets to create places that local governments have a role in ending that are inclusive and can support homelessness. vulnerable people. As a local government, the City can contribute in the following ways: • Making information on local services and supports available and accessible • Ensuring Rangers and front-line staff are informed and supported to interact with people experiencing homelessness and, where appropriate refer them to local services 6 | Homelessness Strategy: 2020-2022 Homelessness Strategy: 2020-2022 | 7 City of Stirling Prevention and Homelessness Strategy Vision: 1 early intervention Community members in the City of The City of Stirling Homelessness Strategy Stirling are supported to find a safe aligns with the City’s strategic vision and sets the framework for our work with people experiencing Recognise and address the main place of their choice to call home. homelessness through three key focus areas. triggers that lead to homelessness Carol’s Story and increase protective factors for individuals, their families and the In April 2020, the City of Stirling community. responded to the Covid-19 pandemic Prevention by setting up a drive-through service and early for members of the community in intervention need of fresh food, sanitary packs Tasks and pantry items. Maintain connection with the community Shortly after the Emergency Relief Drive and sector to identify people at risk of Through Service opened, a middle Community homelessness and establish causal factors. aged couple presented to the service members in the Develop or promote inclusive activities and requesting food and toiletries. They City of Stirling are facilities that build connections, promote were homeless and had been living supported to find wellbeing and reduce social isolation. in their car for the past few months. a safe place of They had purchased a tent, but had their choice to Advocate for affordable housing options and been unable to get into a caravan park Engagement, call home. appropriate services to support people to due to the Covid-19 restrictions. information Build access them. capacity At their initial visit, the City staff were and support Develop and promote a range of soft entry able to assist with food and toiletries pathways across the City so people are and offered information relating to supported to access services before they services that could assist with financial are impacted by homelessness. and accommodation support. They visited again on a regular basis and then Rationale advised that they had been able to get housing accommodation. By implementing early intervention and These key focus areas are: Shortly after they moved into the prevention strategies we can minimise the risk house, they separated and he left. She of people becoming homeless. It is the City’s was experiencing some mental health Prevention and early intervention priority to focus resources in this area and challenges and issues with drug abuse. mitigate causal factors. 1 Recognise and address the main triggers that lead to homelessness and She had no transport, so we assisted increase protective factors for individuals, their families and the community. with home deliveries to provide her with supplies and additional information Engagement, information and support relevant to her situation. Some time later, the man presented People experiencing homelessness are able to access information, networks again at Emergency Relief in a 2 and services that meet their needs, improve their health and wellbeing and depressed state. Apparently he had raise awareness about homelessness. been sleeping in his car for the past week. Staff provided a friendly face who listened over a cuppa and some food. Build capacity He was then successfully connected 3 Service providers, partners and organisations work collaboratively to the Mirrabooka Community Mental and are well equipped to support people experiencing homelessness. Health Service where service staff were able to assist him further. 8 | Homelessness Strategy: 2020-2022 Homelessness Strategy: 2020-2022 | 9 Engagement, information 2 and support 3 Build capacity People experiencing homelessness are Service providers, partners and able to access information, networks Karen’s Story organisations work collaboratively Janes* Story and services that meet their needs, and are well equipped to support improve their health and wellbeing and A young man was found sleeping people experiencing homelessness. Jane is a 34-year-old mother who had raise awareness about homelessness. behind one of the City’s Recreation experienced chronic homelessness