This week we were pleased to see the timely launch of the ‘Inside the Front Door’ report.
The data covers a seven-year longitudinal study conducted by RMIT University and Lead Researcher, Honorary Professor Guy Johnson, of six high volume homelessness services in Melbourne, including Haven Home Safe’s services in Preston as well as:
- Unison
- Vincent Care
- Wayss
- The Salvation Army
- Launch Housing
The report highlighted the challenges intake services face when a pipeline of housing is unable to support outcomes and when a service need grows but is not matched by a growth in funding. It also showcased the impact and strength achievable when homelessness services work in collaboration and how this approach can provide a united voice on what is needed to have greater impact.
‘Inside the Front Door’ looked at IAP data from 2014-2020. The key take-aways from the report as well as participating in the study include:
- mental health, family violence, housing and affordability crisis is creating a surge in presentations to IAP services.
- the data debunks stereotypes of those who are presenting to our entry points. IAP is seeing an increased number of women, families, domestic and family violence victims and those experiencing mental health challenges.
- the identification of ‘heavy service’ users should be considered by policy makers to adequately resource services to provide support to a cohort who make up 10-20% of clients but require more intense amounts of worker support and resources.
- improving outcomes continues to be challenging when there is no affordable housing available for most people on low incomes or complex vulnerabilities.
- the need for the industry to support and protect frontline workers.
- no single organisation can solve homelessness on their own. Everyone must work collaboratively towards it.
- a lack viable options for emergency accommodation for people. There are not enough services or accommodation available to support the needs of clients.
- Victoria’s need for more houses.
- Victorian’s need IAP resourcing to be a priority in the Government’s budgets.
As the industry continues to struggle under the weight of increased demand, decreased access to housing, accommodation, services and supports for clients as well as shrinking budgets, this data will be instrumental for advocacy bodies and organisations to use to highlight the urgency and need to drastic action from policy makers and funding bodies.
The final report is a testament to the many meetings and hours of hard work where we must recognise our all our staff member for their work and belief in the report project which was first conceptualised in 2022.
You can read the report here.
