The title of this Heartbeat says it all!!
James Chan from Xavier, who interviewed Carrical reso Juan for Narrative, had a spare $80 ticket last Friday for Real Madrid vs. Manchester City game at the MCG. He gave it to Juan who thoroughly enjoyed himself.
Special eh???????
I will Heartbeat much more re Run Melbourne in the coming days. For now, I want to let you know a story about Carrical reso, Phil. If you have been following Servants’ Facebook adventures in recent times you would have seen having his hair and beard being tidied up alongside an article about him from The Homeless of Melbourne Facebook page. He also features in Narrative. Preamble complete. Phil sells Big Issue in the city and does rather a good job of it by all accounts. Phil decided to donate half his tips from the past few weeks to Team Servants ’15. This amounted to a whopping $280!!! Let’s really think about this money. This is MORE than a week’s board and lodging for Phil at Carrical – a truly significant sum of money. No, not everyone we house absolutely adores Servants and those who represent it – indeed, some are antagonistic!! But there are far more folks like Phil that we house than not. The unpublicized, internal use only tagline of last year’s Carols @ Carrical was ‘Servants, the charity that puts back in.’ Phil has proven this on a very significant personal level. Incredible. Touching. Phil completed the 5km walk yesterday and was pretty pleased with himself!!
One of our Hamer resos was evicted last night, with VicPol assistance, following threats made to a Hamer Housekeeper. It was not a pleasant situation but events were handled as well as we would expect them to be. Our terrific relationship with the local cops was once again on display.
As many of you will be aware we have been awaiting the report on the state of the roof at Carrical for several months now. DHHS contacted me yesterday to inform me that the report had now been sent to them. The report is comprehensive in its detail. All items that require any amount of maintenance/attention have been categorized as A, B or C. A is urgent, B is necessary and C does not require immediate attention. The Dept informed me yesterday that they will take on all A and B items and rectify them. This includes new gutters, slates, downpipes, Gutterguard etc. Very good news indeed!!
A group of 9 students from Balwyn High School visited Romana on Tuesday lunchtime to host a BBQ for the resos and to get to know what we are on about a little more. Following a hugely successful BBQ I returned with them to school to show the Voices from Carrical doco and to talk further about our work. It was a good day – I am very hopeful if developing a much fuller relationship with BHS in the coming months/years. 3 of their students are representing Team Servants ’15 and have already secured some more than significant sponsorship from Rotary Club of North Balwyn.
The crude, yet to be ratified, stats for empty room nights for our housing in 14/15 fin year look a lot like this:
We budgeted for 720 empty room nights across the 3 houses – so to have 100 is terrific.
Enjoy!!
| Empty Room Nights | New Resos | Transfer In | Transfer Out | Higher Care Exit | Eviction Exit | Died on-site | Own Accord Exit | Mutual Agreement Exit | Shot Thru Exit | Returning Reso | |
| Carrical | 20 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hamer | 50 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Romana | 30 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals | 100 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
I asked Alan and Ben, who recently finished their 4.5 month stint as temporary Housekeepers at Hamer, to write a short reflective piece on their time at Hamer. The following is from Alan ……..
After working at Servants for over two years, it became a whole new perspective to witness this world on the frontline as a Night Manager. I developed skills in listening, patience, and keeping a level head in difficult situations. What I have witnessed on many occasions is a strong sense of community, and that concepts such as friendship and belonging are so universal to everyone’s feelings of peace and security.
An important thing I learned in my experience is that first impressions count for so little. Some residents can display one persona but have an entirely different one underneath. One of the challenges but also joys of living with them was to try and discover what was underneath, to see who they truly are. I discovered the dangers of propagating an ‘us against them’ mentality between management and residents, too much of a divide creates a mistrust on both ends. When those barriers were broken, I could see mutual respect appear, and a stronger relationship develop.
One of my many joys has been to see positive changes in residents over time, and to feel personally involved in that. To see them quit drinking, or to start a new hobby or change of lifestyle, even just seeing them accept outside help, these are victories that sometimes were overshadowed by negative experiences, but those are the moments that I will always seek to positively reflect on. These are real people, with real lives, and with real problems. If I have in any way even had a small impact on their lives in a positive way, I will be truly thankful.
On Saturday night we held a special Community Dinner at Hamer to farewell Ben and Al, the temporary Housekeepers in the Donohoes’ absence. The boys did a terrific job in their 4.5 months at Hamer. They will be very much missed by the resos. I reminded Ben and Al that Servants is a little like the line from The Eagles song Hotel California: ‘You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.’ They both seemed quite happy with this indupitable fact.
Yesterday a Carrical reso began some volunteer work in the gardens at Romana – under the watchful eye of one of the more capable Romana resos. It was very special seeing this arrangement come together. Just one of the very many lovely relational things we continue to see in the houses.
The Halls recently had a well-deserved break from living at Romana. Ruby and Andy stepped in as cover for a few nights, as they have done previously, and did a great job. A couple that Amanda and I have identified as potentially future Housekeepers, Liz and Edgar, had a couple of nights on site too – their first experience of the Housekeeping role. They did terrific job and were really well received by the residents. Nothing like planning early for the future!
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
• Study shows 75% of participants remain in stable housing after four years
• 80% decline in the need for health services
• Study delivered savings to Government up to $32,080 per participant
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
• At the conclusion of a three-year Pilot, 85% of J2SI participants were in independent housing, with 75% remaining in housing a year after support services ceased
• Participants’ use of emergency health services declined by over 80% (an outcome that has been sustained since the Pilot’s cessation)
• J2SI participants’ average use of emergency hospital services declined by 80%, from 1.5 instances in the preceding six months at the start of the study, to 0.3 instances at the 48 month mark o In comparison, the control group experienced a 21% increase in the need for emergency hospital services at the 48 month mark
• J2SI participants’ average use of emergency psychiatric assistance declined from 1.5 instances in the preceding six months at baseline, to 0.1 at the 48 month mark o In comparison, there was no material change amongst the control group
• A continued decline in the number of days J2SI participants were incarcerated
• An increased use of employment services and willingness to work during the program’s duration
• A consistent improvement in perceived social support and acceptance; the two key indicators used to measure social inclusion
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
The one year birthday party at Romana on Sunday was a really nice occasion. Many people popped in for lunch/arvo tea – including a few surprises from the broader Servants family. The sun shone, the food was terrific and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Big thanks to Brian and Pat for all their work behind the scenes organizing such a good day.
The new freezer arrived today at Carrical. it cost about 3k and was paid for via a generous donation from Rotary Club of Hawthorn last year.
If I was technical enough to post an image of it here I most certainly would. As I am not you will just have to imagine a shiny, new, silver-colored, 2 door, brand, spanking, new freezer. It looks good doesn’t it?
Next time you are in Carrical please feel most welcome to visit the kitchen to pay homage to it.
The Council to Homeless Persons have just released a book entitled ‘Homelessness in Australia.’
I suggest that this would be a terrific book for all committee members to at least spend a few minutes exploring. I will bring it to the June committee meeting – however, if you are desperate to devour all 300 pages beforehand please let me know and I will get my copy to you.
The back cover reads:
The first book to explore the current complexities of homelessness in Australia and future policies to address it.
What is homelessness? Who counts as homeless? Whose responsibility is homelessness? In Homelessness in Australia, leading experts offer timely insights into the history, causes and extent of homelessness in this country – and the future policy directions most likely to have a positive impact. Chapters cover issues such as gender, Indigenous homelessness, family violence, young people, older people, the effects of trauma and reforming the service system.
A group of folks from St Hilary’s Church in Kew hosted a BBQ and Trivia Night at Hamer on Saturday night. It was just terrific. Residents, guests and management alike had a great time.
The Hamer lease is, in true DHHS style, taking an absolute age to bring to the point of signing. This is frustrating. The Dept will send us a draft lease next week for our consideration. It will be a great relief when the lease is finally signed.
I successfully applied to the AFL for 30 free tickets to an upcoming match at the MCG – Richmond versus someone I forget. 10 free tickets for each house. I am glad the Housekeepers will be sorting out who these tickets go to!!
There will be a BBQ at 5.30pm this Saturday at Hamer followed by a Trivia evening.
All welcome!!
It’s true!! We have been operating at Romana for one full year. I think it’s reasonable to say that our first 12 months there have been a great success. To celebrate our first anniversary of operation at Romana Brian and Pat Hall will be hosting an ‘open house’ on Sunday 17th May between Midday and 4.30pm at the house. There will be a lunchtime BBQ followed by an afternoon tea. If you are intending to attend please let me know via email for catering purposes.
The similarity between London buses and vacancies at Hamer is strong.
You wait and wait and wait – and then they all come at once! In the past 4 weeks we have seen one female reso transfer to Romana (good move), one male move to aged care (good move) one male move to palliative care (good move) one former male reso move in and move out within a couple of weeks (just sad) and one male purchase a one-way ticket to his homeland of India (sad and potentially quite catastrophic move)
5 resos out of 28 moving on (mostly for excellent reasons) is a big number by anyone’s standards – and especially be ours. Of course, we have filled the vacancies very quickly and the empty room night total for Hamer for year to date is only 27.