Homelessness and social housing reform launch sites Brimbank Melton 15 June 2016

Setting the scene Homelessness and social housing are part of system-wide reform towards a model of fully-integrated services The integrated services response places homelessness and social housing in the context of the broader social, justice, health and community services system All major reforms across government will contribute to delivering on the Royal Commission into Family Violence recommendations and the government’s wider reform agenda. We will need to ensure our programs are designed consistent with these broader reforms Immediate funding boost includes: housing blitz, Support and Safety Hubs, Service Navigators to guide people through the system

Homelessness & Social Housing Reform Roadmap for Reform Education State Mental Health 10 Year Plan Health 2040 NDIS transition Government’s major reforms Family violence

Launch sites Brimbank Melton, Hume Moreland and Inner Gippsland are the three sites chosen to launch a new way of working across the homelessness and social housing service systems Objectives Design and test new service approaches that aim to reduce homelessness; increase choice, including opportunities in private rental; and maximise links between homelessness and social housing responses Integrate homelessness services with social housing and broader social services Embed an environment and culture of continuous improvement and innovation

Launch sites Principles Service users are at the centre of policy design and service delivery Funded interventions demonstrate outcomes that prevent or end homelessness and housing crisis quickly and sustainably, rather than managing a person’s homelessness Resources and supports are evidence-based and tailored to meet the needs of service users Service users’ choice, engagement and self-determination is increased, as far as possible, in the service response.

Launch sites – reform elements

Launch sites – service design process Consultation & co-design forums Launch sites’ stakeholders, as well as stakeholders drawn from across the state, will be involved in the service design process While allowing for local variability, the statewide roll-out of launch site reforms will require a level of consistency. Co-design is “the process of creating new approaches to services with the people who use or deliver our services” (DHHS, May 2016)

Launch sites - governance The governance structure will consist of: A senior leadership group A service design group 3 area implementation groups An evaluation group A consumer advisory group

Brimbank Melton: Demographics 9 At the 2011 census: Population of Brimbank Melton was 291,994 people Households consisted of 3 people, with 1.9 children per family (on average) 1,491 identified as Aboriginal (0.5 per cent of the total population of the area) Family violence rate in Brimbank was similar to the Victorian rate, however the rate in Melton was somewhat higher. LGASEIFA ranking Brimbank3/80 Melton50/80

Brimbank Melton: Demographics cont. 10 Median weekly household income was $1,234 (Victorian median was $1,216) Median weekly rent was $267 (Victorian median was $277) 47 per cent of the total population were in the labour force (50 per cent for all Victoria)

Brimbank Melton: Demographics cont. 11 Brimbank Melton had a higher percentage of private dwellings that were occupied (compared with Victoria overall Most occupied private dwellings in Brimbank Melton were three-bedroom homes Melton had a much higher proportion of private dwellings with mortgages, and a much lower proportion of dwellings were owned outright, compared with Brimbank and Victoria. December 2015 there were a total of 755 rental properties considered to be ‘affordable’ (DHHS rental report)

Brimbank Melton: Service map Homelessness investment profile ProgramFunding SAAP$4,093,620 NPAH$3,149,084 THM$2,675,641 HEF$399,952 TOTAL$10,318,297

Brimbank Melton: Service map 13 Social housing properties 1,825 public housing 125 long–term community housing 29 National Rental Affordability Scheme – community housing provider owned 223 transitional housing

Brimbank Melton: Service use 14 Homelessness data (1/7/15 – 28/2/16) 4,337 people were helped to address and prevent homelessness (i.e. 1 per cent of the total population of Brimbank Melton, compared with 1.4 per cent throughout Victoria 127 people identified as Aboriginal 74 people cited domestic and family violence as the main reason for seeking homelessness assistance

Brimbank Melton: Service use 15 Housing outcomes for people seeking homelessness assistance (1/7/15 – 31/3/16) Household type At risk / homeless Homeless / homeless At risk / housed Homeless / housed Outcome not knownTotal Lone person8%36%45%6%5%100% One parent with child(ren)2%23%54%8%13%100% Couple with child(ren)2%20%60%8%11%100% Couple without child(ren)3%43%39%10%5%100% Other family3%50%28%10%8%100% Group5%33%42%8%12%100% Don't know household type1%8%3%0%89%100% Total households5%31%45%7%12%100%

Brimbank Melton: Service use 16 Public housing data In March 2016 there were 1,086 people on the early housing waiting list In March 2016 there were 2,100 people on the general waiting list In 2014–15, 65 people in Brimbank Melton were allocated public housing through the early housing waiting list but only 3 people on the general waiting list were allocated public housing

What does this mean? 17 Does the data resonate with your experience? What does the data tell us about service users and the way the service system currently operates? How do we want the service system to look at the end of the two-year launch sites reform? What do we need to do to get there?

Where to from here? 18 Framework Establishment of Area Implementation Groups Recruitment of Area facilitators Commence design process Further information and a word document containing this information can be found at Funded Agency Channel - channel/about-service-agreements/program-requirements,-guidelines- and-policies2/homelessness-and-housing-reform-launch-siteswww.dhs.vic.gov.au/funded-agency- channel/about-service-agreements/program-requirements,-guidelines- and-policies2/homelessness-and-housing-reform-launch-sites

To receive this publication in an accessible format phone using the National Relay Service if required, or Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne. © State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services June, Available at policies2/homelessness-and-housing-reform-launch-sites