At the precipice: Australia’s community sector through the cost-of-living crisis

Homelessness, Report

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The Australian Council of Social Service's report on the Australian Community Sector Study 2022 highlights funding, contracting, and workforce challenges. The study reveals struggles in meeting needs, particularly in homelessness support, and shows decreased staff retention and insufficient government funding coverage for service delivery costs.

Enhancing the coordination of housing supports for individuals leaving institutional settings

Out of Home Care (OOHC), Young People, Homelessness, Housing, Policy

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This report from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) examines transitions from institutional settings, including out-of-home care, with the purpose of proposing policy directions to enhance housing supports. Findings are detailed in the report.

Final report: Inquiry into homelessness in Australia

Report, Research, Homelessness, Data, Inquiry, Recommendations, Report

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The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs has released its final report into homelessness in Australia. The inquiry examined the causes of and contributing factors to homelessness, opportunities for early intervention to prevent homelessness, support services for Australians experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, and governance and funding arrangements. The report makes 35 recommendations.

In need of repair: the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement – Study report

Homelessness, Report

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This Productivity Commission report reviews the progress of the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement in each state and territory. The report details its findings and offers suggestions to ensure the future stability of the Agreement.

Keeping Families Together: Pilot project study

Families and parenting, Out of Home Care (OOHC), Children, Homelessness, Housing, Report, Case Study

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The School of Social Science at the University of Queensland released this report in December 2021. The report details an empirical study of Keeping Families Together, a supportive housing pilot project for families with a young child experiencing multiple vulnerabilities. The project assisted 20 families and the study found that all families exited homelessness in to housing with 95 per cent maintaining their housing for the duration of the 12-month pilot. The project also achieved reduced interactions with child safety and 31 per cent of families with children in out-of-home care had children returned. The study identified a range of success factors.

Nowhere to go: The benefits of providing long-term social housing to women that have experienced domestic and family violence

Family Violence, Homelessness, Women, Housing, Report

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This report examines the intersections between family violence, housing, and homelessness. The report estimates that each year around 7,690 women are returning to a violent partner due to a lack of affordable housing and around 9,120 women are becoming homeless after leaving their home due to family violence. It concludes that an additional 16,810 social housing properties are needed to address this issue.

OPEN Research/Policy Snapshot: Children and young people on the edge of care, out of home and alone

Families and parenting, Young People, Homelessness, OPEN Resource

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This resource highlights the key findings, recommendations and takeaways from this July 2020 report by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence. The report explores the inadequacies of existing service provisions for children and young people aged 10-16 years who do not qualify for statutory removal but who cannot remain at home due to family conflict.

Patterns of homelessness and housing instability and the relationship with mental health disorders among young people transitioning from out-of-home care: Retrospective cohort study using linked administrative data

Out of Home Care (OOHC), Homelessness, Multidisciplinary Practice, Journal article

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This research article uses multiple government departments' data investigating the relationship between out-of-home care leavers and homelessness. This report recommends a multidisciplinary, holistic and collaborative approach to housing pathways for the care-leaving population.

The Centre for Homelessness Impact Evidence and Gap Maps

Homelessness, Evidence Informed Decision Making, Tool/toolkit

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The Centre for Homelessness report and evidence and gap maps collate evidence from the homelessness sector that demonstrates sector knowledge. This evidence and gap map is a tool for practitioners and policymakers to engage with evidence and facilitate evidence-informed decision-making across the homeless sector.