Sustaining Housing After Homelessness: Final Research Report to the National SAAP Coordination and Development Committee

Sustaining Housing After Homelessness: Final Research Report to the National SAAP Coordination and Development Committee Report

• Author(s): Liz Mackdacy, Chris Lennings, Helen Wood, Bill Randolph, Julie Winstanley, Brendon Buck
• Secondary Author(s): National Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) Coordination and Development Committee,
• Published: 2004
• Publisher: The National SAAP Coordination and Development Committee

Link to resource Report broken link

Abstract: This report documents research commissioned by the Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) on behalf of the National SAAP Coordination and Development Committee (CAD) as part of its national research program for the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP). The terms of reference were: ◗ Provide some quantification of the need for support post-homelessness. ◗ Assess the current situation with regards to post-homelessness support across jurisdictions, the current contribution of SAAP to post-crisis support, and the continuing cost to the program of re-entry. ◗ Analyse successful housing outcomes post-homelessness and their connection to support provided or available to assist in their achievement. Does this work better for some than others, if so why? ◗ Document any barriers to successful transition to sustainable housing and the supports needed to maintain housing. ◗ Document examples of ‘best-practice’ models in successful housing resettlement post-homelessness. ◗ Provide advice on future directions for support services to people exiting homelessness. The specific research questions to be investigated were: ◗ What are the housing outcomes of people exiting homelessness? ◗ What are the key determinants of housing outcomes for people exiting homelessness (e.g. form of housing exited to; nature and degree of support received and the period of time a person is homeless)? ◗ What support (form of support, duration and intensity) do people need after they exit crisis accommodation in order to succeed in long-term housing? ◗ To what extent is this support provided at the present time? ◗ Who currently provides this support? ◗ What future directions could be pursued in the next SAAP Agreement in order to improve the provision of support to the homeless? ◗ What is “best practice” in the provision of support to people in resettlement i.e. the transition from insecure to sustainable housing? ◗ What is needed over the short, medium and longer term, and for what groups? ◗ What kinds of support should be available? ◗ How long may support need to continue? ◗ Do SAAP agencies have the ability to provide such supports? ◗ What other supports may be required? ◗ What are the gaps in the forms of support? (e.g. skills training; health services; financial assistance; employment; reintegration into the community). The components of the research were: ◗ An international literature review of research on exiting housing including the United Kingdom, USA, Sweden, Canada and Australia. ◗ An analysis of NDCA data for 7 questions about support for and destinations of people exiting SAAP. ◗ A study of current practices in Australia largely conducted by written survey and consultations. 158 surveys were distributed to Government and non-Government agencies and 44 responses were collected. ◗ Collection of 43 case studies from Government and non-Government agencies. ◗ Reports on leaving homelessness in four Australian jurisdictions. Field studies were conducted in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory where Government agencies, SAAP providers and clients were consulted as key informants.

• Urls: https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080722120841/http://152.91.62.58/internet/facsinternet.nsf/vIA/saap2/$File/sustaining_housing.pdf
• Publisher Location: Canberra