Buying a Government House
First Point | 1800 176 468
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Social Housing and Homelessness Services
Social Housing and Homelessness Services is responsible for the development of policy initiatives and the delivery of homelessness, community housing and related services to the ACT community. In The Road Home White Paper on Homelessness the Commonwealth Government set out bold goals to halve homelessness in Australia by 2020 and to offer supported accommodation to all rough sleepers who need it. The ACT Government is committed to these and a range of other targets under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness.
The term ‘social housing’ incorporates both public housing and community housing. Both of these provide low-cost housing to low and moderate income earners, who are unable to secure private rental or home ownership. Public housing is provided by government, while community housing is provided by community housing organisations funded by the ACT Government.
The term ‘affordable housing’ may be used generally to refer to housing that is within peoples’ means to pay, though it also refers to rental accommodation that is priced above social housing but below private rent.
Youth Homelessness Services in the ACT
Homelessness Services
Preventing Homelessness
Community Housing
Policy Context
Youth Homelessness Services in the ACT
The Community Services Directorate (CSD) has released a discussion paper on modernising the youth homelessness services in the ACT and is inviting feedback on the paper until 28 February 2011.
Please note that the preferred response method is through SurveyMonkey, which can be accessed by clicking the following link, or typing it into your browser http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YouthHomelessDiscussionACT 
If you prefer, you can also respond through normal avenues such as email or post.
In addition to the discussion paper you will find below the literature review, which provides the background context for the discussion paper.
In addition, CSD will hold at least two half day forums to allow for a conversation about the discussion paper as part of the community consultation process. Dates and venues will be advised shortly, but will be towards the end of January and early February.
Accessible Versions
Discussion Paper Modernising Youth Housing and Homelessness Services [PDF 309KB] [RTF 1.3MB]
Designer Version
Discussion Paper Modernising Youth Housing and Homelessness Services [PDF 276KB]
Literature and Best Practice [PDF 308KB] [RTF 2MB]
Response Sheet [PDF 66KKB] [RTF 36KB]
The Youth Integrated Education & Accommodation Service Program
On the 11 December 2010 the ACT government went out to public tender for the establishment of an Integrated Youth Education & Accommodation Service. The tender documents can be downloaded from the Procurement Solutions website, and the tender closes on 1 Feb 2010 (or as advised by Procurement Solutions). The concept paper to support the tender documents is available here.
Concept Paper [PDF 406KB] [RTF 1.3MB]
Homelessness Services
The ACT Government funds and oversees range of services for people who are homeless, including supported accommodation, outreach and drop-in services. In order to ensure that the level of homelessness is reduced and effective services are in place, the ACT Government and homelessness sector continually review and improve upon existing services. Consistent with this approach, a range of new initiatives have recently been developed, including:
First Point – A Central Intake Service for people experiencing homelessness
1800 176 468 (1800 1 POINT)
From 1 November 2010 a new way of accessing homelessness services will be available. People will now be able to ring 1800 176 468 (1800 1 POINT), free of cost, to access any homeless service in the ACT, or come in to a Central Access Point, where the Central Intake Service will be co-located with Housing ACT and other services. No longer will people need to identify and contact a range of different services in order to find accommodation if they find themselves homeless.
Street to Home
For the first time in the ACT, there is a service dedicated specifically to the provision of assertive outreach and support to people sleeping ‘rough’. The service commenced in 2010 and will facilitate a ‘who’s new on the streets’ committee in partnership with city park rangers, ACT policing, ACT Mental Health, and other partners. The committee will have a focus on identifying people who may have recently started sleeping rough. The service is operated by St Vincent de Paul and is assisting those most excluded in our community to access support and accommodation.
Managed Accommodation Program and Women Exiting Corrections Program
These are new services directed specifically at men and women exiting the Alexander Maconochie Centre and other corrections programs. These programs will assist to ensure that people exiting prison receive adequate support and stable housing on release, thereby assisting their rehabilitation, and reducing homelessness.
A Place to Call Home
This program introduces a ‘housing first’ approach to accommodating people who are homeless. Under the program 20 new properties are being built over the period 2009-2013, where homeless families are provided with a supported accommodation place in the house which will be later transferred into their own name when the issues that led to their homelessness are resolved.
A new Foyer-like youth homelessness service
In 2011 the ACT Government will establish a new Foyer-like model to the ACT, assisting young people who are homeless to stabilise their lives and transition to independence. A holistic approach is used, offering access to affordable housing, support, education, training, and job opportunities.
Preventing homelessness
In 2010 the ACT Government established a Building Housing Partnerships program. An initiative under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness, this new program will make a major contribution to the prevention of homelessness.
Supportive Tenancy Service A service to people on all housing tenures who find themselves at risk of homelessness. For the first time support is available to mortgagees, and people in social housing, private rental and affordable housing. Early intervention will be provided when problems first arise, in order to prevent them getting to crisis point. Where people already find themselves at risk of eviction or otherwise losing their accommodation, support will be provided to assist them in sustaining that housing.
Tenant Initiated Grants A grants program supporting social inclusion for public and community housing tenants.
Community Housing
The ACT Government funds a number of community sector agencies to provide long term housing to people who cannot afford to rent in the private market and/or who are otherwise experiencing social exclusion or disadvantage.
Social Housing Register From 2010 a new way of accessing public and community housing in the ACT. For the first time, people will be able to apply for social housing through one centralised application process, rather than having to approach a number of different agencies.
A Regulatory Framework for community housing providers commenced in 2009 and an Office of Registrar – Not for Profit Housing Providers established. More information on a Regulatory Framework for community housing providers commenced in 2009
Policy Context
In December 2008 the Australian Government released a White Paper on Homelessness, setting the policy agenda for addressing homelessness across Australia. This was followed on 1 January 2009 by the implementation of National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA), and later by the National Partnership Agreements on Homelessness and Social Housing. The NAHA replaces the former Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) and Commonwealth State Housing Agreement (CSHA).
These national agreements are complemented by the Affordable Housing Action Plan, which addresses housing affordability in the ACT community. In August 2009 the Affordable Housing Action Plan Phase II was released, identifying strategies to address homelessness and affordable accommodation options for older Canberrans.
The Road Home: A National Approach to Reducing Homelessness
The National Affordable Housing Agreement
The National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness
The National Partnership Agreement on Social Housing
The National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness – ACT Implementation Plan
Affordable Housing Action Plan
Affordable Housing Action Plan Phase II
Over the period 2004-08 the ACT Government implemented Breaking the Cycle: The ACT Homelessness Strategy. This process created a systematic approach to the homelessness to stable housing continuum and a number of innovations that have changed the way that the homelessness sector operates in the ACT. More information on ACT Homelessness Strategy
