Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven
Meeting Date: Tuesday,
29 November, 2022
Location: Jervis
Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra
Time: 2.00pm
Please note: Council’s Code of Meeting Practice
permits the electronic recording and broadcast of the proceedings of meetings
of the Council which are open to the public. Your attendance at this meeting is
taken as consent to the possibility that your image and/or voice may be
recorded and broadcast to the public.
Agenda
1. Apologies
2. Confirmation of Minutes
· Homelessness
Taskforce Shoalhaven - 1 September 2022....................................... 1
3. Declarations of Interest
4. Reports
HT22.28...... Notification of Council Resolution................................................................ 10
HT22.29...... Action Table Update Report......................................................................... 12
HT22.30...... Shoalhaven Community Led Plan for Homelessness................................. 18
HT22.31...... Development of Protocols and Guidelines to Assist
Shoalhaven City Council Staff to work with People Experiencing Homelessness........................................... 22
5. General Business
HT22.32...... Strategic Plan Update - Working Group 4
Update on the work of
Working Group 4 of the Homelessness Strategic Plan – Advocacy and Lobbying.
Erin Mulally will
provide an update on the work undertaken by Working Group 4 since the
Homelessness Strategic Planning Day, held on 11 October 2022.
HT22.33...... Presentation - Southern Cross Housing - 2023
Street Count
Southern Cross Housing
are coordinating the 2023 Street Count on behalf of the NSW State Government
and would like to present an overview of plans for the count, and seek members
input into the draft list of known street sleeper hotspots.
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Homelessness
Taskforce Shoalhaven – Tuesday 29 November 2022
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Membership
Clr Findley - Chairperson
All Councillors
Chief Executive Officer or Nominee
Penni Wildi – Waminda
Mitchell Bagou – St Vincent De Paul
Cathy Campbell – Southern Cross Housing
Donna Corbyn – Bay & Basin Community Resources
Patricia David – Unions Shoalhaven
Peter Dover – Salt Ministries
Erin Gliddon - Services Australia - South Coast NSW
Bernard Gleeson – St Vincent De Paul Welfare
Belle Grossetti – Mission Australia
Rohanna Holland – Bay & Basin Community Resources
Emilie Martin - Grand Pacific Health
Maria Mitchell – Ulladulla & Districts Community
Resources Centre
Nicole Nicholls – Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health
District
Justine O'Reilly – Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre
Kristy Puckeridge – Southern Youth and Family Services
Nicky Sloane – CI Group
Samantha Stiff – Headspace Nowra
Matthew Sutcliffe – The Salvation Army
Olivia Todhunter – Legal Aid NSW
Libby Topp – Shoalhaven Drug and Alcohol Service
Rheanna Williamson – Primary and Community Care
Services
Lindy Meeves – Nowra Community Mental Health Team
Cassie
Michaux - Manager Commissioning and Planning, Illawarra Shoalhaven and Southern
NSW District
Joanne Grant
– AMS Nowra
Anna Bacik
– CI Group (Illawarra Forum)
Julie Bugden
– Shoalhaven Homelessness Hub
Ruby
Hansen-Tarrant – Age Matters
Alice Russack
– Yumaro
Liz
O’Connell – Mission Australia
Grace Rey –
Socks n Jocks
Lucinda Knapp
– Aboriginal Legal Service
Michael Sweeney
– North Shoalhaven
Julianne Hopkins
– North Shoalhaven
Raul Arregui
– North Shoalhaven
Stuart Bellingham
– South Shoalhaven
Keith Davis
– South Shoalhaven
Shirley Taylor – South Shoalhaven
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
Minutes of the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven
Meeting Date: Thursday,
1 September 2022
Location: Jervis
Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra
Time: 2:05pm
The following members
were present:
Mayor Amanda Findley
– Chairperson
The Hon. Gareth Ward MP
– left meeting at 3:40pm
Clr Moo D'Ath (remotely)
Clr Evan Christen
Clr Patricia White
Clr Tonia Gray (remotely)
– left meeting at 4:09pm
Mr Peter Dover –
SALT
Ms Ash Hudson - SALT
Ms Patricia David –
Unions Shoalhaven (remotely)
Mr Bernard Gleeson - St
Vincent De Paul – left meeting at 3:45pm
Ms Justine O'Reilly - Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre
Capt Matthew Sutcliffe
– The Salvation Army (remotely)
Ms Olivia Todhunter - Legal Aid NSW (remotely) – joined at 2:21pm
Ms Erin Mullaly –
Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre (remotely)
Ms Emilie Martin
Ms Cathy Campbell –
Southern Cross Housing
Mr Eric Coulter –
Southern Cross Housing
Ms Julie Bugden -Shoalhaven Homeless Hub (remotely) – left
meeting at 3:55pm
Ms Ruby Hansen-Tarrant
– Age Matters (remotely) – joined at 2:21pm
Mr Keith Davis
Mr Stuart Bellingham
Mr Michael Sweeney
Ms Julianne Hopkins
Mr Digby Hughes –
Homelessness Australia
Mr Blake Richards - My Best Life
Ms
Sarah Date – Safe Waters (remotely) – left meeting at 3:29pm
Mr Adam Gowen –
Safe Waters (remotely)
Mr Chris Martin –
Safe Waters (remotely)
Ms Jodi Blair –
Safe Waters (remotely)
Mr Kent Lawking –
Safe Waters (remotely)
Others Present:
Carey McIntyre –
Director – City Futures
James Ruprai –
Director – City Development
Gordon Clark –
Section Manager – Strategic Planning
Colin Wood –
Manager – Certification & Compliance (remotely) – left meeting
at 2:40pm
Michael Paine –
Manager - Community Connections
Carly McWalters –
Team Leader – Community Capacity Building
Marsha Makary –
Community Capacity Builder - Homelessness
The Chairperson opened
the meeting with an Acknowledgement of Country.
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Apologies / Leave of
Absence
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Apologies were received from Clr Ell, Penni Wildi, Maria
Mitchell, Libby Topp, Lindy Meeves, Alice Russack, Lucinda Knapp, Raul Arregui
and Jane Lewis.
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Confirmation of the
Minutes
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RESOLVED (Gareth Ward MP/Clr
White)
That the Minutes of the
Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven held on Tuesday 24 May 2022 be confirmed.
CARRIED
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Nil.
Presentations
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HT22.18 Doing It Tough Guide
Update
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HPERM Ref: D22/305975
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Shoalhaven City Council’s Community Capacity Builder,
Homelessness - Marsha Makary provided a presentation to the Homelessness
Taskforce on the recent development of the Doing It Tough Directory in
partnership with Southern Cross Housing.
· It is a guide for those needing extra
support, including crisis and homeless support.
· The Directory was released at the Thrive
Together Fair, held on 3 August 2022.
· The online version of the Director is
available on Path2Home website, which is maintained by Southern Cross
Housing.
· Council is looking into available funding options
for the future printing of hard copies of the Directory for distribution to
service providers.
· A softcopy of the Doing It Tough Directory book will be
made available via the Council website.
· Council will distribute the Directory to Council’s
frontline staff to assist them when they come into contact with people who
are experiencing homelessness or doing it tough. The emergency services
– Police, Hospital and Ambulance services staff - will also receive
copies of the book for the same purpose of supporting staff engagement with
people doing it tough.
· The approximate cost for 1000 copies is $4,295, or for
2000 copies $6,995 through Ulladulla Printing Service.
· Mr Hughes suggested investigating printing options
through Street Smart via the small organisations who are members of the
Taskforce.
· Mr Michael Paine - Manager - Community Connections
advised that Community Connections are currently undertaking discussions
regarding distribution of the Directory through Allied Health and local GP
clinics.
· Ms Campbell advised that Southern Cross Housing is
launching a new website next week. The information for service providers who
are listed in the Directory will appear on a drop-pin map, similar to a real
estate search, and will be available online for people to access.
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HT22.19 2022 Thrive Together Fair
Presentation
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HPERM Ref: D22/305994
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Shoalhaven
City Council’s Community Capacity Builder, Homelessness - Marsha Makary
provided a presentation to the Homelessness Taskforce on the recent Thrive
Together Fair held on 3 August 2022.
· Marsha acknowledged and gave thanks to the Planning
Working Group - Kate Morris (TAFE), Jasmine Huang (Shoalhaven Legal Centre),
Samantha Stiff (Headspace), Patricia David (Unions Shoalhaven), Lucinda Knapp
(ALS), Ash Hudson & Peter Dover (SALT), Lindy Meeves (ISHLD), Emma Wood
(Shoalcoast), Fiona Lam (SNS) Samantha Kettlewell (Beyond Empathy) and Gareth
McAuslin (GPH) as well as Council’s Communication Team.
· There were three components of the Fair being the
Donation Drive (6 June – 15 July), the callout to organisations to join
the Fair, and the Fair itself.
· The aim of the Donation Drive was to put together dignity
packs containing essential items for distribution at the Fair which had a
great response. 250 bags were made including Escabags, family bags, single
men and single women bags. All of the bags were given away by 12:00 at the
Fair.
· There were approximately 350 attendees at the Fair.
· There was discussion around planning ideas for future
Fairs. Some suggestions included:
o Holding some smaller pop up type fairs throughout the
Shoalhaven to reach more areas – eg Ulladulla / Bay & Basin / North
venues in addition to the Thrive Together Fair in its current format.
o This format could use established organisations which
would reach their contacts and clientele in the areas and could reduce hire
fee expenses.
· Sarah Date – Safewaters advised that there is a
Community Expo taking place on 21 October in Ulladulla and that she will
forward the information to Ms Marsha Makary for distribution to members of
the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven.
· Clr Christen asked whether a breakdown of attendee data
was available, for example men/women/mothers/children
· Transport to and from the event was discussed as a way to
encourage community attendance from all areas of Shoalhaven. There may be
other options in local communities for example Bowling Club buses.
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HT22.20 Safe Waters Presentation
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HPERM Ref: D22/315894
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Sarah Date from Safe Waters
provided a presentation to the Homelessness Taskforce on how Safe Waters
began and their journey towards opening community-funded homelessness
shelter(s).
· Safe Waters has just celebrated it’s 3 year
anniversary on 19 August.
· The model was based off SALT’s Safe Shelter in
Nowra.
· Initially, Safe Waters was seeking properties through the
Churches in the Ulladulla area but as this was unsuccessful, they ended up
with a two-bedroom private rental property in South Street, Ulladulla.
· This property opened on 1 November 2020, and since that
time there have been almost 200 inquiries for assistance, but have only been
able to assist 66 people.
· The property has two bunk beds sleeping 4 people in each
bedroom but this has presented some difficulties for some applicants.
· A Highway Shelter has been donated to Safe Waters by
Groundswell Church, but there have been delays in finishing the renovations
on this property due to accessibility and bushfire regulations.
· It is proposed that the Highway Shelter be used for
crisis accommodation in the Ulladulla area, of which there is none at the
current time.
· Another property which is owned by Council in St Vincent
Street is planned to become another shelter in the future.
· It is planned that the Highway Shelter will be made
available for women and the St Vincent Street Shelter will be made available
for men.
· Colin Wood advised that Council is working with the
access consultant for the Highway Shelter property and will meet onsite with
the consultant once the performance report has been provided.
· A meeting will be scheduled between Safe Waters, Council
staff and Council members once the access consultant report has been
completed.
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HT22.21 Southern Cross Housing
Leasehold Program
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HPERM Ref: D22/339521
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Eric Coulter - Southern Cross
Housing (SCH) provided a presentation to the Homelessness Taskforce on the Southern
Cross Housing Leasehold Program.
· Community Housing Leasehold Program is supplementary
funding to assist with the extra provision of social housing in the
Shoalhaven area and other Southern Cross Housing locations.
· Of the 2300 Southern Cross Housing properties,
approximately 311 are leasehold homes which are leased by SCH and then sublet
to SCH tenants in a normal lease agreement.
· 30 long term homeless people who are rough sleepers have
been housed through the Together Home program in the Shoalhaven and southern
region.
· Most of the properties are rented through real estate
agents, but there are some that are rented through private landlords with
private management agreements in place.
· SCH offer three rental choice products:
1. The Rent Choice Start Safely is a 3-year
tapered subsidy program targeted to tenants who are fleeing domestic
violence. For the first year tenants pay social housing rent (25% of income +
100% of rental assistance). Over the proceeding four blocks of six months the
rent eventually goes up to the market rent.
2. The Rent Choice Youth is to assist young
people into rental accommodation, currently there are 3 active tenants on
this program in Shoalhaven. Rent Choice Youth is similar to the Rent Choice
Start Safely platform but also looks at the potential of tenants to earn
income.
3. The Rent Choice Assist is for
accommodation after the bushfires and COVID pandemic and is managed by
Southern Cross Housing. This is for a shorter period of 12 months.
· SCH also offer a Private Rental Subsidy for people with a
chronic disability that can’t secure a property in the private rental
market when their tenancy becomes at risk.
· There is also Short Term / Temporary Accommodation for
people which has an overall cap of 28 days over a 12 month period.
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Note: Sarah Date –
Safe Waters left the meeting at 3:29pm.
Note: The Hon. Gareth
Ward MP left the meeting at 3:40pm.
Note: Mr Bernard Gleeson
- St Vincent De Paul left the meeting at 3:45pm.
Reports
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HT22.22 Updated Action Table Report
- September 2022
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HPERM Ref: D22/340296
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Recommendation (Item to be determined under
delegated authority)
That the Shoalhaven Homelessness
Taskforce:
1. Acknowledge
the following actions as being complete and remove from the action table:
a. HT22.12
Affordable Housing Strategy / State Housing Situation - Annual Report
requested
2. Acknowledge
the following actions will be completed at the Homelessness Taskforce meeting
on 1 September and can be removed from the action table upon completion:
a. HT22.16
Doing it Tough Guide / Access to NSW Register - Airbnb - Report Request
b. HT22.17
Southern Cross Housing - Housing Leasehold Program / Safe Waters - work
undertaken
3. Acknowledge
the following actions require further action and consideration by the
Homelessness Taskforce:
a. HT22.13
Homelessness Interagency - Taskforce Strategic Priorities investigations -
Crisis Accommodation / Holiday rentals / Affordable - Social housing / Income
support - report request
b. HT22.15
Social / Affordable Housing Funding - advocate to Federal Government -
Cooperative housing - Regional Planning
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RESOLVED (Peter Dover / Keith
Davis)
That the Shoalhaven Homelessness
Taskforce:
1. Acknowledge
the following actions as being complete and remove from the action table:
a. HT22.12
Affordable Housing Strategy / State Housing Situation - Annual Report
requested
2. Acknowledge
the following actions will be completed at the Homelessness Taskforce meeting
on 1 September and can be removed from the action table upon completion:
a. HT22.16
Doing it Tough Guide / Access to NSW Register - Airbnb - Report Request
b. HT22.17
Southern Cross Housing - Housing Leasehold Program / Safe Waters - work
undertaken
3. Acknowledge
the following actions require further action and consideration by the
Homelessness Taskforce:
a. HT22.13
Homelessness Interagency - Taskforce Strategic Priorities investigations -
Crisis Accommodation / Holiday rentals / Affordable - Social housing / Income
support - report request
b. HT22.15
Social / Affordable Housing Funding - advocate to Federal Government -
Cooperative housing - Regional Planning
CARRIED
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HT22.23 Shoalhaven Community
Strategic Plan for Homelessness Progress Update
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HPERM Ref: D22/311944
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Recommendation (Item to be determined under
delegated authority)
That the Homelessness Taskforce receive the report for
information on the current progress and proposed next steps of the Shoalhaven
Community Strategic Plan for Homelessness.
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RESOLVED (Digby Hughes / Justine
O'Reilly)
That the Homelessness Taskforce
receive the report for information on the current progress and proposed next
steps of the Shoalhaven Community Strategic Plan for Homelessness.
CARRIED
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HT22.24 Shoalhaven City Mayor's
Relief Fund for Homelessness
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HPERM Ref: D22/348224
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Recommendation (Item to be determined under
delegated authority)
That the Homelessness Taskforce:
1. Receive
the Mayors Relief Fund for Homelessness in Shoalhaven report for information.
2. Endorse
the proposal for the Mayors Relief Fund for Homelessness in the Shoalhaven.
This proposal will consist of two components:
a. Conduct
a community wide appeal for monetary donations to the Mayoral Relief Fund for
Homelessness, and
b. Administer
a funding program to provide quick access funding for the Shoalhaven
community to support initiatives that assist people who are, or are at risk
of, experiencing homelessness.
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RESOLVED (Peter Dover / Digby
Hughes)
That the Homelessness Taskforce:
1. Receive
the Mayors Relief Fund for Homelessness in Shoalhaven report for information.
2. Endorse
the proposal for the Mayors Relief Fund for Homelessness in the Shoalhaven.
This proposal will consist of two components:
a. Conduct
a community wide appeal for monetary donations to the Mayoral Relief Fund for
Homelessness, and
b. Administer
a funding program to provide quick access funding for the Shoalhaven
community to support initiatives that assist people who are, or are at risk
of, experiencing homelessness
CARRIED
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HT22.25 National Cooperative
Housing Commission - Proposal to Establish Working Group
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HPERM Ref: D22/316064
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Mr Digby Hughes - Homelessness
Australia advised that Common Equity is the peak body for housing
cooperatives in NSW and would be able to provide assistance and advice
regarding their cooperative housing models in NSW.
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Recommendation (Item to be determined under
delegated authority)
That:
1. A
working group be formed to develop a website for the purpose of creating a
groundswell of public support for a National Cooperative Housing Commission
with the charter of assisting financially challenged communities to establish
affordable housing estates nationwide. This would be similar to the US model,
reference; The National Association of Housing Cooperatives coophousing.org.
2. The
working group then develop a proposal for a pilot cooperative housing estate
within the Shoalhaven in readiness for any Government distribution of funds.
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RESOLVED (Keith Davis / Clr
White)
That:
1. The
Homelessness Taskforce receive the report for information and thank Mr Davis
for submitting the report.
2. Council
staff consider the role and opportunities that Collaborative Housing could
play in the Councils Affordable Housing Strategy work and in the development
of the Homelessness Plan, including the need for a working party and
Council’s role in it.
CARRIED
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Note: Ms Julie Bugden -Shoalhaven Homeless Hub left the meeting at 3:55pm.
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HT22.26 Collective Home Project
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HPERM Ref: D22/347531
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Mr
Peter Dover – Salt noted the following points regarding the Collective
Home Project:
· The
housing situation in the Shoalhaven is now at an emergency level, no longer
at the crisis level.
· 18,000
homes in the Shoalhaven are considered unoccupied, which are predominantly
holiday and Airbnb homes.
· Seeking
funds from State and Federal Government to make 500 houses available to those
community members who are suffering from disadvantage.
· It will be a 3 – 5 year project.
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Recommendation
That the “Collective
Home” Project be endorsed by the Shoalhaven Homelessness Taskforce.
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RESOLVED (Peter Dover / Amanda
Findley)
That the “Collective Home” Project be
endorsed by the Shoalhaven Homelessness Taskforce.
CARRIED
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Note: Clr Tonia Gray left
the meeting at 4:09pm.
general business
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HT22.27 Homeshare
Funding Project - Shoalhaven
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The
Hon. Gareth Ward MP advised that there is an opportunity to investigate
funding options to establish a program based on the “Homeshare”
Program, which is working extremely well in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.
The
Homeshare Program partners people who are in genuine need of accommodation
with people who are living on their own and are lonely or need assistance
around the home, where the prospective tenant can provide assistance to the homeowner
in return for a room at a reduced rental rate. It was noted that a
coordinator to administer the partnership arrangements would be required.
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RECOMMENDATION
(Peter Dover / Keith Davis)
That
Mayor Amanda Findley write to the Hon Gareth Ward MP on behalf of Shoalhaven
City Council to seek support for the Homeshare funding project for the
Shoalhaven.
CARRIED
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There being no further
business, the meeting concluded, the time being 4:15pm.
Mayor Amanda Findley
CHAIRPERSON
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Homelessness
Taskforce Shoalhaven – Tuesday 29 November 2022
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HT22.28 Notification
of Council Resolution
HPERM Ref: D22/432232
Department: Business
Assurance & Risk
Approver: Jane
Lewis, Director - City Lifestyles
Reason for Report
To advise the Taskforce of
Council’s resolution in relation to the re-establishment of the
Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven and the appointment of the Mayor as
Chairperson of the Committee until September 2023.
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Recommendation
That
the Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven receive the Notification of Council
Resolution – Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven Re-establishment report
for information.
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Options
1. As recommended.
Implications: The membership structure as specified
in the Council Resolution is adopted for the period to September 2023.
2. The Committee
request that Council consider changes to membership, purpose, delegation,
quorum, or the number of meetings required for the committee.
Implications: Such changes would need to be
considered as a change to the Terms of Reference of the Committee and endorsed
by the Council.
Background
Each year in September, Council
reaffirms all its committees for the next 12 months. At that meeting Council
has the option to reaffirm its committees; make any change to membership,
purpose, delegation, quorum, and the number of meetings required for those committees;
or disband committees.
This report is provided to
inform the Committee members of the resolution of the Council. At the Ordinary
meeting on 26 September 2022 Council directly appointed the Mayor, Councillor
Amanda Findley as the Chairperson of the Taskforce and adopted (see MIN22.683) the following in relation to the
Homelessness Taskforce Shoalhaven for the period to September 2023:
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Meetings per year – Four (4)
Commencement time – 2.00pm
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Quorum – Eight (8)
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Terms of Reference: POL21/45 (55584E)
Adopted: 14 September 2021
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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
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Delegation – NIL
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Chairperson – Appointed by Committee [where not
directly appointed by Council]
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2022-2023 Councillor / Staff Membership
Chairperson Clr Findley (Chairperson)
All Councillors
CEO or Nominee
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Organisational Representatives
Representatives from community organisations and local
service providers being either Government/Non-Government
agencies/organisations and community members including but not limited to
SAHSSI – Shoalhaven Women’s Homeless and DV Service, Unions
Shoalhaven, Salt Ministries, ISLHD – Homelessness Mental Health
Program, Shoalhaven Homelessness Hub, Grand Pacific Health, Legal Aid,
Southern Cross Community Housing, Waminda, Care South.
Representation from a service(s) from the North, Central
and South of Shoalhaven LGA
A maximum of 3 community members with lived experience
A maximum of 3 community members with an interest in
homelessness in the Shoalhaven with representation from North, Central and
South of the Shoalhaven LGA.
One representative for each of the Federal Member for
Gilmore and the State Members for South Coast and Kiama
Department of Communities & Justice
Department of Education (subject to availability)
Regional NSW (subject to availability)
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The
committee may consider changes to membership, purpose, delegation, quorum, or
the number of meetings should be amended. If this is the case, such changes
will be reported to the Council for consideration and endorsement.
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Homelessness
Taskforce Shoalhaven – Tuesday 29 November 2022
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HT22.29 Action
Table Update Report
HPERM Ref: D22/488409
Department: Community
Connections
Approver: Michael
Paine, Manager - Community Connections
Attachments: 1. Homelessness
Taskforce Action Table for 29 November 2022 Meeting ⇩
Reason for Report
To provide the Shoalhaven
Homelessness Taskforce with a progress report on outstanding actions.
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Recommendation
(Item to be determined under delegated authority)
That
the Shoalhaven Homelessness Taskforce acknowledge the following actions as
being complete and remove from the action table:
1. HT22.13 Taskforce Strategic Priorities
investigations - Crisis Accommodation / Holiday rentals / Affordable - Social
housing / Income support
2. HT22.27 Homeshare Funding Project -
Shoalhaven - Letter to Seek Support - Gareth Ward MP
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Options
1. Adopt the
recommendation as written.
Implications: The Shoalhaven Homelessness Taskforce
is updated of actions and recommendations made at previous meetings
2. Request more
information.
Implications: The Shoalhaven Homelessness Taskforce
request further information
Background
This report is to update the
Homelessness Taskforce on outstanding actions from previous meetings.
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Homelessness
Taskforce Shoalhaven – Tuesday 29 November 2022
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Homelessness
Taskforce Shoalhaven – Tuesday 29 November 2022
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HT22.30 Shoalhaven
Community Led Plan for Homelessness
HPERM Ref: D22/449544
Department: Community
Connections
Approver: Jane
Lewis, Director - City Lifestyles
Attachments: 1. Shoalhaven
Community Led Plan for Homelessness (under separate cover) ⇨
Reason for Report
To present the ‘Shoalhaven
Community Led Plan for Homelessness’ to the Homelessness Shoalhaven
Taskforce (HTS).
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Recommendation
That the Homelessness Taskforce
Shoalhaven:
1. Accept the ‘Shoalhaven
Community Led Plan for Homelessness’ (The Plan).
2. Commit to regular progress tracking
and evaluation of The Plan and agree to include it as a standing agenda item
at each meeting.
3. Conduct an annual review of The Plan
and include it as a standing agenda item at the last meeting of each calendar
year.
4. Commit to a full review and update
of The Plan every 5 years.
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Options
1. The Taskforce
accepts the recommendation as written and agrees that the HTS becomes the
reporting mechanism for progress tracking and evaluation on desired outcomes.
Implications:
The Plan is accepted by the Taskforce which will become
the reporting mechanism for progress tracking and evaluation. Working Groups
will update the HTS at each meeting on the progress of outputs to date.
2. The Taskforce
does not accept the recommendation as written.
Implications: The Taskforce provides an alternative
option.
Background:
The Shoalhaven
Community Led Plan for Homelessness (The Plan) (Attachment 1) is a community developed and led strategy. Council
assisted with the facilitation of The Plan through the role of the Community
Capacity Builder – Homelessness, who worked with the HTS Working Group to
coordinate the Community Workshop for Homelessness that led to The Plan’s
inception and development.
The Community Capacity Builder – Homelessness will
assist with the delivery of The Plan by supporting the Focus Area Working
Groups to establish their work plans and connect with Council teams where
necessary to improve communication and collaboration.
Council’s facilitation of The Plan supports the
commitment made in Shoalhaven City Council’s Homelessness Policy
to prevent, reduce, and manage homelessness, build capacity within the
community to address homelessness, and encourage collaboration, community
partnerships and evidence-based practices.
The Plan also compliments the Shoalhaven’s
Affordable Housing Strategy and highlights Council’s effort to provide a comprehensive
and systematic response to the local housing and homelessness crisis and assist
vulnerable members of the community.
The aim of The Plan is to provide a platform for
collaboration across the community and homelessness sector to address homelessness
in the Shoalhaven. The actions and outcomes listed in The Plan are derived from
the ideas identified in the first Community Workshop for Homelessness, held on
the 11 May 2022.
The Plan was created to minimise duplication of work and
strengthen the community response to maximise local resources, encourage
collaboration, and provide a platform to launch projects and initiatives off.
The mission is:
‘To prevent, reduce and manage homelessness in the
Shoalhaven and improve the wellbeing of those at risk’.
The Four Focus Areas of The Plan are:
1. Early Intervention and Collaborative
Support
The
focus is to increase the capacity of the community to work collaboratively and
utilise multidisciplinary approaches to achieve quality outcomes and systemic
response to homelessness. The aim is to allow people experiencing disadvantage
or homelessness in Shoalhaven have increased access to a range of outreach
services to improve wellbeing and protective factors against homelessness and
prevent or reduce time spent homeless.
2. Community Awareness and Education
The
aim is to reduce stigma surrounding homelessness and increased community
understanding and participation in response to homelessness. This focus area
also includes building a better understanding of the extent and nature of
homelessness in the Shoalhaven, including through information and data
collection, and learning from people with lived experience of homelessness.
3. Advocacy and lobbying
The focus area aims to develop a unified approach to
advocate and highlight to all levels of Government the homelessness crisis that
is being experienced throughout Shoalhaven. The focus of the advocacy is to
support legislative changes, budget increases to the homelessness sector, and
ensure there are mechanisms in place to increase the supply of appropriate
housing (emergency, social and affordable) in Shoalhaven. The working group for
this focus area may also advocate for funding and support on behalf of projects
working groups in other focus areas of The Plan are working on.
4. Housing and Accommodation
The area of focus is to increase the capacity of the
community and homelessness sector to provide alternative housing and shelter
options to encompass all housing needs, focusing on emergency, medium-term and
supported housing options.
Development of The Plan
A working group nominated by the HTS gathered the
information from the workshop and worked together to identify the aim, mission,
desired outcomes, and various roles within The Plan. A consultation took place
with internal Council teams to identify current or previous Council work to
ensure alignment and avoid duplication. The Community Capacity Building Team
worked with Strategic Planning to confirm the scope of The Plan and its
position in relation to the ‘Shoalhaven Affordable Housing
Strategy’.
The Housing Continuum (Page 11 of The Plan) refers
to the type of housing people may move through and live in throughout their
lifespan, depending on their personal circumstances and clearly sets out the
scope of work of Council and community.
The current ‘Shoalhaven Affordable Housing
Strategy’ focuses on sections of the housing continuum that deal with
the provision of both private and public affordable housing, and the creation
of new social housing stock, while the focus of the community and Community
Capacity Building Team is in the homelessness space which includes community
supports and emergency, supported and transitional housing.
With this in mind, the ‘Housing and
Accommodation’ Focus Area of The Plan will include actions
relating to short-term emergency accommodation, medium-term transitional
housing and supported accommodation. The ‘Advocacy and Lobbying’
focus area of The Plan will focus on advocating to Federal and State
government for additional social and affordable housing stock.
Following internal Council
consultation, a final ‘Community Workshop for Homelessness’
took place on 11 October 2022. The aim of this workshop was to establish four
self-managed working groups which would each focus on the four Focus Areas of
The Plan.
Progress Tracking and
Evaluation
Established working groups will
be responsible for leading the work of each focus area and will provide
progress updates at HTS meetings.
The HTS will be the mechanism
for progress tracking and evaluation for The Plan and will ensure the continued
implementation of the actions. ‘Lead stakeholders’ of each of The
Plan’s focus areas will work with their working groups to report back
their progress updates at each HTS meeting.
Working Groups will submit an
evaluation of The Plan to the final HTS meeting of each calendar year. Project
planning and evaluation tools developed as part of the Community Wellbeing
Strategy will be shared with working groups to assist with planning, progress
tracking and evaluation of The Plan. The Community Capacity Builder,
Homelessness will support working groups to use this tool and adapt them for
best fit.
A full review of The Plan will
occur on the five-year anniversary of its establishment and will continue every
five years following this. The current plan runs from 2022 – 2027.
Financial Implications
A grant application was
submitted on Tuesday 8 November 2022 to the Community Development Fund (administered
by the Office of Responsible Gambling) to fund some of the short-term
initiatives identified in The Plan.
Policy Implications
Council’s facilitation of
the creation and continued evaluation of the Shoalhaven Community Strategic
Plan for Homelessness supports the commitment made in Shoalhaven City
Council’s Homelessness Policy:
1. Preventing, reducing,
and managing homelessness;
2. Supporting and building
capacity within the community to address homelessness, and
3. Encourage collaboration,
community partnerships and evidence-based practices.
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Homelessness
Taskforce Shoalhaven – Tuesday 29 November 2022
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0
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HT22.31 Development
of Protocols and Guidelines to Assist Shoalhaven City Council Staff to work
with People Experiencing Homelessness
HPERM Ref: D22/449519
Department: Community
Connections
Approver: Jane
Lewis, Director - City Lifestyles
Reason for Report
To inform the Shoalhaven
Homelessness Taskforce (SHT) of the new Protocol for People Experiencing
Homelessness: Shoalhaven City Council Showgrounds and Camping Facilities and
Rough Sleepers in Open Spaces and Homelessness at Showgrounds Guidelines.
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Recommendation
(Item to be determined under delegated authority)
That the Shoalhaven Homelessness
Taskforce receive this report for information
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Options
1. The Homelessness
Taskforce accept this report for information
Implications: Members view and accept information
within the report.
2. The Homelessness
Taskforce do not accept the report
Implications: Members request further information.
Background
In response to the increasing
primary homelessness in the Shoalhaven, the Community Capacity Building Team
have produced the Protocol for People Experiencing Homelessness: Shoalhaven
City Council Showgrounds and Camping Facilities’ protocol (the
Protocol) and Rough Sleepers in Open Spaces and Homelessness at Showgrounds Guidelines
(the Guidelines). The Protocol and Guidelines will be displayed at the meeting
for discussion.
The Protocol references the
Department of Communities and Justice ‘Protocol for Homeless People in
Public Places’ and was created in consultation with Shoalhaven City
Council’s Rangers, Showground Caretakers, Facilities staff, and Visitor
Information Services (VIS). The Protocols have been reviewed and adopted by
Council’s Executive Management Team.
The Protocol provides advice and
instructions on how to engage with people experiencing homelessness and helps
to identify possible red flags for Council staff to be aware of in the
management of Council facilities, including showgrounds.
Easy-to-read guidelines have
also been developed and have been designed to be used as a quick reference
guide that includes support for engaging with people rough sleeping in public
spaces as well as Council showgrounds.
The purpose of the Protocol, and
Guidelines, are to support staff in assisting people experiencing homelessness
by providing timely information to connect to relevant support services and to
help staff to know where additional assistance may be found. The Protocol also
helps to ensure that people experiencing homelessness are treated respectfully
and appropriately and are not discriminated against on the basis of their
homeless status. It is an important element in Council’s strategy for
responding effectively to homelessness.
The Shoalhaven Primary
Homelessness Response Meetings (SPHRM) are referred to in the Protocol and
Guidelines as part of the escalation process to assist Council staff with
complex cases of homelessness at Showgrounds and in public spaces.
The SPHRM originated in response
to the increase in rough sleeping at the Nowra Showground and the closure of
the Gateway Caravan Park in April 2021. The Response Meetings convene on a
fortnightly basis (and weekly during times of escalation) and include
Showground Caretakers, Council Rangers, VIS as well as community sector
representation from Southern Cross Housing, Salt Care and St Vincent de Paul.
Council Showgrounds and camping
facilities are not considered public spaces and those utilising the facilities
are subject to the legislative regulations, as well as Council’s Terms
and Conditions of Hire/Use. The Protocol does not prevent organisations from
taking appropriate action where health or safety is at risk, or a breach of the
peace or unlawful behaviour has occurred.
Upon establishment of The
Protocol and Guidelines, Council’s Community Capacity Builder for
Homelessness will facilitate training to teams who have community facing staff
on how to safely utilise the Protocol. The aim is to support Council staff to
provide safe, appropriate, and respectful assistance to those experiencing
homelessness. Training will be provided to Council Rangers, Showground
Caretakers, Library Staff, Contact Centre team and VIS.
Policy Implications
Shoalhaven City Council’s
Homelessness Policy outlines Councils commitment to:
1. Preventing,
reducing, and managing homelessness;
2. Supporting
and building capacity within the community to address homelessness, and
3. Encourage
collaboration, community partnerships and evidence-based practices.
The steps outlined in the
Protocol for People Experiencing Homelessness: Shoalhaven City Council
Showgrounds and Camping Facilities, are in line with the principles of
Council’s Homelessness Policy which ensure that all public and Council
spaces in the Shoalhaven region are safe and inclusive for the whole community.
The creation and implementation
of the Protocol exemplifies Council’s commitment to addressing
homelessness and supporting the Shoalhaven community, as outlined in the
Homelessness Policy.