Agenda of Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven

Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven – Friday 24 July 2020

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Membership

Clr Findley - Chairperson

All Councillors

Chief Executive Officer or Nominee

Tamie Harvie - Community / volunteer – interested in mental health and D&A

Penni Wildi – Community Member / Waminda

Wendy Woodward - Nowra Show Society / community volunteer

Deborah Ferrier – Community volunteer

Lesley Labka - SAHSSI – Shoalhaven Women’s Homeless and DV Service

Wendi Hobbs - Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention and Awareness Network (SSPAN)

Rev Matthew Wilson – Nowra Uniting Church

Patricia David – Unions Shoalhaven

Peter Dover – Salt Ministries

Roslyn Poole - ISLHD – Homelessness Mental Health Program

Ashleigh Hudson - Mobile Response Vehicle coordinator (services for homeless)

Alan Heard – Nowra Baptist Church

Julie Bugden - Shoalhaven Homelessness Hub

Bernard Gleeson - St Vincent De Paul Nowra

Sharlene Naismith – Legal Aid

Natalie Beckett - HARP Unit – Sexual Health & Blood Borne Infections; and Aboriginal community member

Eric Coulter - Southern Cross Community Housing

Nicky Sloan – Community Industry Group

Quorum - 8

Purpose

To provide appropriate and considered strategic advice on homelessness and related issues that can be dealt with at Council level. The Taskforce will work with Council to address issues, develop options and assist with the identification of preferred solutions as part of Council’s decision making process.

Role of the Taskforce

The role of the Homelessness Taskforce is:-

Provide Council with strategic advice on homelessness and related issues that can be dealt with at a Local Government level.
Work with Council to address issues, develop options and assist with the identification of preferred solutions as part of Council’s decision making process
Advise on the development and application of a Homelessness Strategic Plan
Provide comment on relevant Council policies and strategies
Advocate community views on homelessness issues

Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven - The Wish List:

· Plan and Strategy for dealing with homelessness and any ‘incidents’ that arise

· Adopting the Affordable Housing Strategy to Shoalhaven

· Permanent Shelter for the Shoalhaven

· Education of the community (possibly a forum)

· Building connections between homeless persons and wrap around services

· Permanent but temporary accommodation

· Future of Public Housing – mapping the way forward and advocating for tenants

· Business Involvement

· Plan and Policy for Emergency nights (crisis accommodation)

· Creating policy that works on the ground (Homeless protocol for the showground as an example)

· Improving life outcomes for those who have experienced/are experiencing homelessness

· What Next? – who can help after the Safe Shelter closes?

· Continue to lobbying for the State Government to get on board with the demonstration affordable housing site at Bomaderry

· Knowing who the homeless are (anywhere between 100 – 375 homeless on any given night in the Shoalhaven)

Minutes of the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven

Meeting Date: Monday, 2 December 2019

Location: Jervis Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra

Time: 4.00pm

The following members were present:

Clr Amanda Findley - Chairperson

Clr Patricia White

Clr Kaye Gartner

Clr Nina Digiglio

Clr John Levett

Clr Mark Kitchener

Lesley Labka – SAHSSI – Shoalhaven Women’s Homeless and DV Service

Rev Matthew Wilson – Uniting Church

Patricia David – Unions Shoalhaven

Peter Dover – Salt Ministries

Ashleigh Hudson – Mobile Response Coordinator

Sharlene Naismith – Legal Aid

Eric Coulter – Southern Cross Community Housing

Alan Heard – Nowra Baptist Church

Also present:

Blake Richards – My Best Life Australia

Jeff Foster – My Best Life Australia

Jonathan Raja – Marist180

Coralie Bell – Acting Manager, Recreation Community & Culture

Colin Wood – Manager, Building & Compliance

Michael Paine – Senior Community Development Officer

Teagan Starr – Community Development Officer

Jenna Tague – Coordinator – Policy Planning Team

The Chairperson made an Acknowledgement of Country, and gave respects to Elders.

Apologies / Leave of Absence

Apologies were received from Clr Alldrick, Wendi Hobbs, Penni Wildi and Julie Bugden.

Procedural Motion

RESOLVED (By Consent)

That the following items be deferred to the next meeting, to allow for the participation of the absent member who had submitted them:

· HT19.16 – Homelessness Services Tour

· HT19.17 – Affordable Housing Strategy

CARRIED

Confirmation of the Minutes

RESOLVED (By Consent)

That the Minutes of the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven held on Monday 23 September 2019 be confirmed.

CARRIED

Declarations of Interest

Nil

Presentations

HT19.11 Presentation - Southern Cross Community Housing

HPERM Ref: D19/152807

Eric Coulter, Manager, Access and Demand, Southern Cross Community Housing (SCCH), gave a presentation on the organisation’s work.

SCCH has been operating since 1983. It now manages 2,130 properties, over 1,800 of which are within the Shoalhaven Local Government Area – 1,580 in Nowra, 312 in Ulladulla. The remaining properties are in Eurobodalla (140), Snowy-Monaro (148), and Illawarra (12).

Social Housing in the Shoalhaven is owned by SCCH or Land Housing Corporation. 234 properties are leasehold, 107 affordable housing. SCCH also manages Jerrinja Local Aboriginal Land Council properties. The waiting lists for housing are currently:

· Nowra – 1000

· Ulladulla – 212

· Eurobodalla – 502

· Cooma-Monaro – 76

The organisation works in collaboration with other services. It offers clean-up teams to assist when tenants have moved, and a Communities Assist Team.

Eric provided statistics about the client base:

· 80% of tenants are reliant on some form of state support, e.g. Centrelink or DVA

o 21% age pension

o 35% disability support

o 10% Newstart

o 9% parenting payment

· Average age of applicant is 54 years

o 12% aged 10-30 years

o 55% aged 30-60 years

o 33% aged >60 years

The number of older clients is an increasing challenge. Young people are also seeking to escape generational poverty. The Shoalhaven has disproportionately high numbers of people over 65, and of Aboriginal people. SCCH seeks to build wraparound services into the pattern of tenancy management to coordinate care, and works with local providers such as SALT and SAHSSI.

The organisation also purchases and develops properties in partnership, e.g. Lighthouse Foundation. Eric clarified that financial returns are not the focus – the New Generation Boarding House which cost $1.3M has a yield of only 1.5% – but sustainability needs to be built in. Other opportunities that SCCH is exploring include liaising with Council over land for potential development.

The Taskforce thanked Eric Coulter for his informative and positive presentation.

HT19.12 My Best Life Australia

HPERM Ref: D19/416576

Blake Richards, of My Best Life Australia, gave a presentation on their project. He explained its main purpose is to help solve problems of domestic violence, and now also homelessness, in partnership with the community. The project being presented to the Taskforce centres on the conversion of buses into accommodation. Blake has been liaising with Graham Bradshaw of Transport for NSW on acquiring decommissioned State Transit Authority buses that mostly cannot be driven. Currently they have brought three buses in Nowra and two more are on the way. (Note: Please refer to minutes of the Homelessness Taskforce meeting of 5 April 2018 for background to the Transport for NSW “Second Life” proposal.)

My Best Life Australia have approached Council to seek short-term storage for the buses. The organisation is also in discussions with Wilcannia, Dorrigo, Crookwell as well as Shoalhaven.

The refitted buses are intended to function as mid-term accommodation, between the temporary accommodation provided by shelters and long term accommodation. The target market is rough or car sleepers; the fastest growing group is 50+ year-old women.

The buses are planned to house up to four people each. The longer term plan is to locate the buses in caravan parks with existing facilities. They will be built to containing and hopefully recycle grey water within. The cost to adapt each bus is approximately $19,800. Buses would be rented for $150/week – one third being paid to the property owner, the remaining two thirds recouped by My Best Life.

Those buses that are still functioning would be used for community transport, with the front retained for transport but the rear converted to accommodation.

The organisation is also gaining access to decommissioned train carriages from mid-2020.

They anticipate there are 170 working buses, of which they will have 30 by Christmas, and eventually 150 train carriages. My Best Life are also working towards a flatpack version of tiny homes. These would cost about $50,000 to build.

The Taskforce discussed the project and thanked Blake Richards and Jeff Foster for their presentation.

Reports

HT19.13 Notification - Council Resolution - Re-establishment of Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven

HPERM Ref: D19/336852

The Chairperson asked whether members see value in the Taskforce continuing, given the activity of the Homelessness Interagency group which provides another venue, and the time pressure on everyone in attending meetings. Council has resolved to retain the Taskforce until next year, when the incoming new Council in September will determine the committee structures.

Peter Dover noted the Taskforce is helpful; the Interagency discusses the services, but is more a networking venue rather than action. The Taskforce provides a place to look at specific issues from the Interagency, together with Councillors and staff.

It was agreed to hold a workshop on the Terms of Reference at the next meeting (6 April 2020).

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Taskforce receive the report on the Council Resolution – Re-establishment of Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven for information.

RESOLVED (By Consent)

That the Taskforce

1. Receive the report on the Council Resolution – Re-establishment of Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven for information.

2. Conduct a workshop as part of the next meeting to review the Terms of Reference.

CARRIED

HT19.14 Update on Actions - December 2019

HPERM Ref: D19/392216

It was clarified that, as this was the first Actions Table summary provided to the Taskforce in this format, all actions since its beginning had been included to bring members up to date. In future only uncompleted actions will be included.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven receive the Update on Actions report for information.

RESOLVED (By Consent)

That the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven receive the Update on Actions report for information.

CARRIED

HT19.15 Public Housing in the Shoalhaven

HPERM Ref: D19/396415

Recommendation

That the Homelessness Taskforce recommend that Council:

1. Write to the State Government Minister for Families, Communities and Disability, The Hon. Gareth Ward, MP, State Member for the South Coast, The Hon. Shelley Hancock, and the Federal Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips MP to urge an increase in availability for Public Housing be funded and that all levels of governments act to reduce waitlists, especially for people who have been identified as having priority. This action should occur within this current term of government.

2. Note that areas in the Sanctuary Point and St. George’s Basin do not have any allocated properties for Public Housing and should be included in funding to support availability.

RECOMMENDATION (By Consent)

That the Homelessness Taskforce recommend that Council:

2. Note that areas in the Sanctuary Point and St. George’s Basin do not have any allocated properties for Public Housing and should be included in funding to support availability.

CARRIED

HT19.16 Homelessness Services Tour

HPERM Ref: D19/408328

Recommendation

That Councillors and Council staff provide verbal feedback to the meeting from the homeless service tour.

This item is deferred to the next meeting – resolved above.

HT19.17 Affordable Housing Strategy

HPERM Ref: D19/408351

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Taskforce request Council provide a report on Affordable Housing Strategy outcomes.

This item is deferred to the next meeting – resolved above.

There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the time being 5.22pm.

Clr Amanda Findley

CHAIRPERSON

Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven – Friday 24 July 2020

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HT20.1 Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven (55584E)

HPERM Ref: D20/278023

Section: Recreation Community & Culture

Approver: Jane Lewis, Acting Director Finance Corporate & Community Services

Reason for Report

To report on the outcome of the Homelessness Taskforce Terms of Reference Workshop held on Monday 29 June 2020 and recommend disbanding the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven as per the membership consensus at the Workshop.

Recommendation

That the Taskforce recommend that Council:

1. Discontinue the operation of the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven; and

2. Thank the members of The Homelessness Taskforce for their commitment and hard work since its establishment; and

3. Rescind The Homelessness Taskforce Terms of Reference (POL 17/77); and

4. Utilise the existing Shoalhaven Homelessness and Good Living Conditions Interagency to continue to provide and receive formal updates on Homelessness and as a mechanism for Council to seek strategic advice on homelessness; and

5. Staff request the Shoalhaven Homelessness and Good Living Conditions Interagency extend an invitation to all Shoalhaven City Councillors to attend the Interagency and be included on the distribution list for meeting agendas and minutes; and

6. Establish an annual Shoalhaven Homelessness Forum to discuss homelessness in the Shoalhaven.

Options

1. That the disbandment of the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven be adopted by the Homelessness Taskforce as outlined in the report.

Implications: Should the Taskforce membership reach a 60% consensus to discontinue the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven, a recommendation to Council will be required to that effect. This outcome would meet the expectations of the workshop participants, who acknowledge that the Taskforce was needed at the time but has now met its goals and built the connections to provide a strong foundation for the Interagency to continue.

2. That the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven continue in its current capacity, with its existing purpose, terms of reference, delegation and meeting frequency.

Implications: This would not meet the expectations of the workshop participants, who acknowledged that the Taskforce has met its goals. Duplication of meetings between the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven and the Shoalhaven Homelessness and Good Living Conditions Interagency will continue to impose time pressures on members. The Taskforce agenda may continue to be sparse, with few agenda items presented for consideration.

Background

In response to the reassertion of the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven (CL19.243); at its meeting on 2 December 2019 the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven resolved in part to (HT19.13) to conduct a workshop to review the Terms of Reference.

On Monday, 29 June 2020 Members of the Taskforce participated in a Workshop led by an independent facilitator to review the Terms of Reference. The members who attended the Workshop have received a copy of the recording of the Workshop and a summary of the outcomes.

Members of the Taskforce acknowledged at the Workshop that work will never be complete in the housing and homelessness space and that the Taskforce, over the last three years, has succeeded in creating important community connections and supporting important strategic milestones in the housing and homelessness space.

However, Members unanimously agreed that the Homelessness Taskforce is duplicating the established Shoalhaven Homelessness and Good Living Conditions Interagency. At the Workshop, Members recommended by consensus that Council:

· Discontinue the operation of the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven.

· Utilise the existing Shoalhaven Homelessness and Good Living Conditions Interagency to continue to provide and receive formal updates on Homelessness and as a mechanism for Council to seek strategic advice on homelessness.

· Request the Shoalhaven Homelessness and Good Living Conditions Interagency extend an invitation to all Shoalhaven City Councillors to attend the Shoalhaven Homelessness and Good Living Conditions Interagency and be included on the distribution list for meeting agenda and minutes.

· Establish an annual Shoalhaven Homelessness Forum to discuss homelessness in the Shoalhaven with the broader community.

Community Engagement

It is important for Council to remain engaged with homelessness in the Shoalhaven. Council staff remain committed to collaborating with the Shoalhaven Homelessness and Good Living Conditions Interagency, to attend meetings where required, and to maintain the relationship between Council and the Taskforce to enable Council staff to stay informed on current and emerging issues where Council has a role.

Policy Implications

The Homelessness Taskforce Terms of Reference (POL 17/77) will be rescinded.