Released 31/10/2022 - Joint media release
The release of the ACT’s Strategic Investment Plan for the Homelessness sector marks a milestone in a new approach to designing and funding homelessness services in the ACT.
This new approach places co-design, trust and respect at its heart. Through this process, the ACT Government is working to ensure that trusted sector partners and people with lived experience are central in the planning, design and delivery of services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The plan outlines the future commissioning approach to co-design and invest in homelessness services that will ensure that the right services are available for those who need them, when they need them.
This plan is the culmination of significant work that has already occurred, including 19 workshops, 5 deep dive discussions, and multiple conversations with service users. It also includes the recent evaluation report of the Central Intake Service (OneLink) for those facing homelessness.
The investment phase of commissioning will now begin, with community support services being funded with long-term agreements that take an outcomes-focused approach to end homelessness.
Minister for Homelessness Rebecca Vassarotti said this new approach will see Government trusting and supporting the sector to create a response system that is more flexible, responsive, and culturally appropriate to new and emerging needs.
"This plan places trust back into the sector and community to tell us what needs to happen to make homelessness in Canberra rare, brief and non-recurring. It builds on our learnings and successes that came out of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Minister Vassarotti said.
“Homelessness can be solved. It will take time, but through genuine commitment and co-design with those on the frontline of support and those who have lived experience, we will fund initiatives that will truly address the complexity of homelessness.
“The process to date has provided key insights around the whole system design as well as how to best deliver central planks such as the central intake service. However, it is also clear that there is more co-design work to be done. The OneLink report highlights key areas for further expansion of the service which will be explored through the commissioning process through the sector, to further develop and deliver the best possible service in our homelessness landscape.”
Minister for Housing and Suburban Development Yvette Berry said that the plan is an important tool in delivering Goal 2 of the ACT Housing Strategy to reduce homelessness.
“Reducing homelessness is more than about putting a roof over someone’s head. This investment plan will provide the opportunity to work closely with the sector and develop solutions that support the most vulnerable in our community to transition into stable, permanent accommodation.
“Thanks to current homelessness service providers, those with a lived experience of homelessness, and other key stakeholders who participated in the commissioning engagement process between January and June 2022.”
Under the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement, the Government will invest a further $18 million over four years to expand the capacity of specialist homelessness services. This funding has enabled these initiatives to continue or be expanded through to 30 June 2023. This approach will provide time to undertake the co-design process so we can fund services that will better address homelessness in the ACT.
Read the Homelessness Strategic Investment Plan as well as the OneLink Evaluation Report: www.communityservices.act.gov.au/commissioning/sectors-in-progress/homelessness-services.
- Statement ends -
Yvette Berry, MLA | Rebecca Vassarotti, MLA | Media Releases