Some of you may have seen the recently published articles about the Journey To Social Inclusion program being operated by Sacred Heart Mission. I have included just one of the articles below for your perusal and edification.

Their model is based around intensive and individually tailored support and rapid access to permanent housing; therapeutic services to address the trauma that is both a cause and a consequence of long term homelessness and a skills building program that equips participants with life skills, assisting them to reconnect with the mainstream community and build social networks outside of the homeless subculture.

They conservatively estimate that for each person who is successfully housed by them for a period of 12 months equates to a cost saving to the community in the vicinity of $30,000 – $35,000.

And why should Servants be interested in this? Because what they do is not a million miles away from what we do and because the cost savings that we bring to the wider community are doubtless just as significant. I suggest that when find we have a few spare minutes to draw breath that we should very seriously consider beginning to understand the community benefit, in terms of dollars, that our services provide. This would provide us with further compelling evidence moving forward to argue strongly for our unique model of housing.

30 APRIL 2015

MEDIA RELEASE Home-grown solution key to solving long-term homelessness

The report, released today, shows sustained positive outcomes were still being seen one year after services, with 75% still in stable housing, in comparison with only 58% of a control group receiving existing homelessness services. Another significant outcome of the study was the 80% decline in the need for health services amongst J2SI participants, versus a 21% increase in the need for these services amongst the control group. The 48 month report, independently evaluated by RMIT and Melbourne University, is the first of its kind to undertake an longitudinal, randomised control trial over four years, that measured a pilot group of 40 J2SI participants receiving intensive services from case workers against a control group of 43 participants receiving existing services.

Further analysis by Sacred Heart Mission has shown that when we set aside the control group and compare the cost to Government of servicing J2SI participants at the start of the study, with that same cost at the 48-month mark, the benefit for government is assessed as $70,365 per participant ($17,591 per year).

“Long-term and chronic homelessness presents quite a different challenge to short-term homelessness,” said CEO of Sacred Heart Mission in St Kilda, Cathy Humphrey. “The effects on the individual, society and economy are costly and complex, with the cycle being harder to break the longer the person has been in that situation. J2SI found that developing a sustained trusting relationship between a case worker and a participant, addressing the trauma that causes a person to fall into the cycle of homelessness is critical, alongside rapid access to safe affordable housing. “However, as every person is different, there is no one size fits all model to solving homelessness, so the solution must be individualised. These people are entrenched in a systemic cycle of disadvantage and require significant support to unpack the effects of a life time of disadvantage, and to rebuild a future. “Our study shows that with the right investment, significant breakthroughs can be delivered and measured in order to address the bigger picture issue of homelessness across Australia. The program’s holistic approach has resulted in a significant reduction in the use of costly, emergency health services, placing less strain on public services and government.”

MP Martin Foley, Minister for Housing Disability and Ageing, who is officially launching the report on April 30 at the Royal College of Australian Surgeons, said, “The Andrews Labor Government strongly believes in working with community organisations like Sacred Heart to develop strategies that break the cycle of homelessness and improve support to homeless people.” “As both the member for Albert Park and Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing, I am proud of the outstanding work done locally by Sacred Heart Mission with the many homeless people in my local area. I am also proud to have such world-leading research on such an important social issue produced in my local community.

“The work being done by Sacred Heart Mission through the Journey to Social Inclusion program is providing invaluable information as we look at tackling the problem of long-term homelessness and entrenched generational disadvantage.”

Having established the evidence base for a promising new service model, Sacred Heart Mission is now seeking assistance to raise $4 million in funding to roll out J2SI Mark II, a refined pilot intended to improve outcomes, and demonstrate the capacity to deliver the program at scale. The longer term goal is to roll out the program nationally with community sector partners and State and Federal governments.

In order to achieve this objective, a sustainable and diversified funding base will be required, incorporating Government, corporate and philanthropic partners working in partnership with the Mission.

An online version of the report is available at www.sacredheartmission.org

For interviews please contact:

Jessica.mangan@redagency.com.au 03 9426 5341/ 0416 544 855 Mia.cochrane@redagency.com.au 03 9426 5348/ 0401 962 623