1. Approaches to Homeless Research in Outer Western Sydney Michael Laing Strategic Community Planner Hawkesbury City Council “Learning to Listen: What your community says about Housing” Forum, 5 April 2011.

2. Overview: 2007-2011  2007 Nepean Campaign Against Homelessness  2009 Nepean/Blacktown Taskforce Against Homelessness (MOU incl. Councils)  2009/10 Consortium & Project 40  2010 Nepean/Blacktown Street-Count  2010 Homeless Hubs commenced  2010/11 Nepean/Blacktown Homeless Research Partnership with UWS, Taskforce & Councils.

3. Street Count of Rough Sleepers 4 May 2010 First Hawkesbury count identified:  51 rough sleepers (primary homeless)  49 secondary homeless people  190 tertiary homeless (separate to count)  Expected to be an under-count (40%+) *First attempts to define a hidden problem.

6. Engagement with ‘Consumers’ Informal contacts: build relationships Street Count Advisers - critical Hawkesbury Hubs Homeless Advocates - hear their voices - value their experience *great impact of personal stories!

7. Ongoing Research Homelessness Scoping Research 2011 Taskforce Councils support Partnership with UWS & Taskforce Auspice: Wentworth Community Housing Submission for further research to UWS Input into Taskforce’s 10 year Plan Goal: to end homelessness in the Nepean