Success In Tackling Chronic Homelessness

I hear Mission Australia is having a near 100% success rate in a new program tackling homelessness. Apparently, horrifically, 50% of our homeless are young people. Australia is a late-adopter of ‘Youth foyers‘ but we are seeing success with these. Both are supportive approaches.

MISHA – Michael’s Intensive Supported Housing Accord

One year on this new approach to getting chronically homeless men off the streets and into stable and long-term housing has close to 97 per cent of tenants still in their homes 12 months later.

The progress report also finds that the men are better connected with their local community, have improved access to services (eg: dentists, psychologists) and feel safer having participated in the initiative.

What Is MISHA?

“Put simply, ‘housing first’ is about providing homeless people with immediate access to long-term, sustainable accommodation (ie: skipping any initial short- or medium- term stay in a homeless shelter). Once a person has the foundation of a home they then receive intensive support to address their issues and maintain their tenancy.

By giving these men immediate access to housing and the right mix of tailored support services, homelessness was solved for nearly all participants.”

The Future?

Mission Australia’s CEO Toby Hall says:

“We can also prevent more people becoming homeless by providing effective tenancy support. But the provision of more social and affordable housing is an essential part of overcoming the problem. Every one of the MISHA participants are accommodated in community housing funded through the Commonwealth Government’s Social Housing Initiative (SHI). The SHI is now finished and many housing?first initiatives are reaching capacity.

We’ll certainly be talking to the new Coalition Government – along with state and territory governments – about what lessons MISHA teaches us and how it can shape our approach to addressing homelessness.”

Tackling Youth Homelessness

Youth Foyers‘ are now successfully providing accommodation and support to homeless or at-risk young people.

“Foyers were first developed in post-war France but have now spread to many other countries in Europe and the UK since the early 1990s, and in the US and Canada. Australia is a late arrival to consider supportive youth housing of this kind.

Youth foyers address two of the most pressing social issues faced by youth: homelessness and unemployment. They provide an opportunity for young people to gain safe and secure accommodation as well as develop independent living skills while they are engaged in employment, education and training.”

Good news that probably needs public discussion to keep the programs going