PUBLICATIONS & RESOURCES

The Housing First Principles for Australia have been developed to promote the implementation of Housing First Australia-wide. The principles were adapted from those used in the United States, Canada, Europe and England. This consistent and locally relevant set of principles is intended to be used in the Australian context to train staff, and to design services that use a Housing First approach.

This snapshot explores the challenges and experiences of Housing First for young people experiencing homelessness in Perth, based on the insights gained through evaluation of 50 Lives since 2016. This snapshot draws on a range of data, including interviews with young people supported through 50 Lives and youth service providers, 50 Lives project data, self-report data from participants (via the Vulnerability Index-Service Prioritisation Decision Assistance Tool (VISPDAT)), and GP and hospital data where able to be matched.

This is the final evaluation reports from the independent evaluation of ’50 Lives 50 Homes’ by the University of Western Australia. The evaluation of 50 Lives spans the period late 2016 to early 2022, which makes it one of the longest longitudinal evaluations of a Housing First initiative to date in the world. While the program itself has now transitioned into the Zero project, the evaluation findings, key learnings, articulation of challenges and recommendations remain highly salient, as WA seeks to embed Housing First as a core platform for addressing homelessness in this State.

This snapshot explores evaluation findings for the overall 50 Lives 50 Homes project, looking at how experiences and housing outcomes compare between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples who have been supported. It also reflects on how Housing First approaches need to be adapted to better suit the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This is the third report from the independent evaluation of ’50 Lives 50 Homes’ by the University of Western Australia. It provides an in-depth examination of housing outcomes and tenancy retention, and reports on changes in hospital use and justice system contacts for those people housed for one year or more and for a smaller cohort of those housed for two years or more.

This Snapshot provides a high-level overview of the findings detailed in the third evaluation report from the independent evaluation of ’50 Lives 50 Homes’.

This is the second report from the independent evaluation of ’50 Lives 50 Homes’ by the University of Western Australia. This report describes the progress of the project in relation to housing and supporting vulnerable rough sleepers, highlights both successes and challenges faced to-date, and provides evidence to support future Housing First projects nationally and abroad.

This Snapshot provides a high-level overview of the findings detailed in the second evaluation report from the independent evaluation of ’50 Lives 50 Homes’.

This is the first of three evaluation reports from the independent evaluation of ’50 Lives 50 Homes’ by the University of Western Australia. Its primary focus was to provide baseline data about how effective and efficient the 50 Lives 50 Homes approach was in providing sustainable housing and wellbeing outcomes for the most vulnerable rough sleepers; and the extent to which it enabled improved service efficiencies and new innovative ways of working to improve outcomes for the people being supported.

This Snapshot provides a high-level overview of the findings detailed in the first evaluation report from the independent evaluation of ’50 Lives 50 Homes’.

Between Friday 5 and Monday 8 March 2021, the City of Bunbury hosted its first Connections Week. This was a collaboration between 11 partners: Milligan Community Centre, headspace, Anglicare WA, City of Bunbury, South West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS), Accordwest, Centrecare, Salvation Army, Doors Wide Open, the In Town Lunch Centre and Ruah Community Services.

Between Monday 16 and Friday 20 November 2020, the City of Geraldton hosted its first Connections Week. This was a collaboration between nine partners: Ruah Community Services, Mission Australia, Centacare, Murchison Region Aboriginal Corporation, Midwest Aboriginal Organisations Alliance, the Salvation Army, Desert Blue Connect, Regional Alliance West and Zero Project.

Between Monday 9 and Friday 13 November, the City of Rockingham hosted its first Connections Week. This was a partnership between Anglicare WA, the City of Rockingham, Ruah Community Services, The Salvation Army, St Patrick’s Community Centre, Street Chaplains and the Zero Project.

Between Monday 18 and Friday 22 January 2021, the City of Mandurah hosted its first Connections Week. This was a partnership between Anglicare WA, St Vincent de Paul Society WA, City of Mandurah, Peel Connect, Bridgebuilders, Calvary Youth Services and Ruah Community Services.

Community Solutions explains how communities are proving it is possible to solve homelessness, working toward a future where homelessness is rare overall and brief when it occurs. Explaining the difference between a ‘street count’ verses a By Name List.

A news story on the amazing work of Port Philip Zero Project. They are measurably reducing homelessness and also raising awareness of the Advance to Zero methodology and how the proven evidence REALLY does work! Please take 6 minutes out of your day to watch this ABC news story, hearing about the awesome work of George Hatvani at Launch Housing, supported by Australian Alliance to End Homelessness and Community Solutions – it’s wonderful to see the progress of other communities in our Advance to Zero network!

Homelessness is a big and complex problem — but it is not one too big or complex to be solved. This video, produced by Built for Zero in the United States, demonstrates how communities can build systems that continually eliminate it and ensure everyone has a place to call home and live with dignity.

In 2021 we hosted a series of Bite Size Chats through which we explored how different parts of the world put ‘Housing First’ into practice. We had the pleasure of interviewing a range of experts from Europe and Australia – providing the opportunity for people to engage in conversations and have the chance to ask questions about ‘Housing First’ approaches and practices.

• Jo Prestidge (Homeless Link, England)
• Rosie Dodd (Launch Housing, Melbourne)
• Siiri Winter (Y-Foundation, Finland)
• Die de Jong (LIMOR, Netherlands)
• Alex Smith (Homeless Link, England)
• Patrick Duce (World Habitat, UK)