Rotary Club of Melbourne HomeGround Supportive Housing

1. Rotary Club of MelbourneHomeGround Supportive Housing

2. HomeGround Supportive Housing– ending homelessness in Melbourne • Context • National affordable housing shortage and projected further pressure • Despite new initiatives and increased funding, homelessness worsening • Federal Government Homelessness White Paper – strategic framework • Federal Government stimulus funding for affordable housing • Victorian Homelessness Strategy – process announced to create a local strategy to implement the federal White Paper

3. HomeGround Supportive Housing – ending homelessness in Melbourne • HomeGround’s approach • Each year HomeGround Services works with over 9 000 people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. • HomeGround aims to end people’s homelessness by “getting people housed and keeping people housed”. • HomeGround aims to break the cycles and remove the barriers that keep people trapped in homelessness. This requires more than bricks and mortar; it’s about helping people establish their homes.

4. HomeGround Supportive Housing– ending homelessness in Melbourne • Relationship with Common Ground • The recognised international leader in Supportive Housing and homeless innovation is Common Ground New York (www.commonground.org). • Common Ground’s inspirational‘whole of community’ approach to ending homelessness which actively engages corporates and philanthropy. • Partnerships formed with Common Ground to assist establish Supportive Housing in Melbourne and other cities. • Rosanne Haggerty, Common Ground Founder and President, launched HomeGround’s Supportive Housing program in Melbourne in November 2007. • Australian Common Ground Alliance formed with Therese Rein as patron and Stephen Nash as Chair.

5. HomeGround Supportive Housing– ending homelessness in Melbourne • Elizabeth St Common Ground Supportive Housing - model • Melbourne’s first Common Ground project was launched in Elizabeth St, in April 2008and will be open in October 2010. • The Elizabeth St project has the five key features of Common Ground Supportive Housing: • Permanent – 131 self contained units, high quality, people can choose to remain in • Safe – 24/7 controlled access to keep unwelcome people out, security features • Supported – on site supports to help people settle into and sustain their housing • Integrated – 50/50 social mix of tenants (65 formerly homeless), community development • Affordable – Supportive Housing rents are set at a maximum of 30% of income

6. HomeGround Supportive Housing – ending homelessness in Melbourne • Elizabeth St Common Ground Supportive Housing – on-site support service: • Case management • Allied health • Therapeutic services • Recreation • Social and vocational services • HomeGround is responsible for the provision of the above services through partnerships with the following organisations: • Royal District Nursing Services Homeless Service Program – nursing services • Brotherhood of St Laurence and Hanover – employment opportunities • Doutta Galla Community Health Centre and Turning Point – general health, drugs and alcohol • Waratah Area Mental Health Service – mental health

7. HomeGround Supportive Housing – ending homelessness in Melbourne • Elizabeth St Common Ground Supportive Housing – partners • Elizabeth St Common Ground Supportive Housing is a partnership between: • the Victorian government – Capital and Support Services funding contributions • Yarra Community Housing – Property Development and Tenancy Management • Grocon – Design and Construction at cost • HomeGround – all Support Services and Concierge functions • During the development phase the project is managed by the Project Control Group, which is a decision making body made up by the four key partners listed above. • Once development is complete the project will be managed according to a Memorandum of Understanding between Yarra Community Housing (Owner and Property Manager) and HomeGround Services (Support Service Provider).

8. HomeGround Supportive Housing– ending homelessness in Melbourne • Elizabeth St Common Ground Supportive Housing – costs • Capital cost approx $53 million – 75% Federal and State Government 25% Grocon (fixed price – non profit - with savings returned to the project) • The Victorian government has committed $3.1 million over four years for support services and evaluation. This does not cover the full cost of support services, estimated to be $1.612 million per year. HomeGround is anticipating an initial shortfall of approximately $688,000 beginning financial year 2010/11. • The Elizabeth St Common Ground Supportive Housing project needs the full range of support services to be adequately funded from inception, to ensure the evaluation is of a full model not a compromised model. • The evaluation will provide local evidence of the program’s success to convince governments to establish ongoing, sustainable funding streams for further Supportive Housing projects.

9. HomeGround Supportive Housing– ending homelessness in Melbourne Elizabeth St Common Ground Supportive Housing – preliminary budget – Year 1 (2010 / 2011)

10. HomeGround Supportive Housing– ending homelessness in Melbourne • HomeGround plans 5 Supportive Housing projects in 10 years • HomeGround has committed to developing FIVE Supportive Housing projects in Melbourne over the next 10 years. • This will house at least 600 people, 300 of whom were formerly homeless. • The first Supportive Housing project is Elizabeth St Common Ground. Not all Supportive Housing projects will be Common Ground style. • Philanthropy, business and the community provide seed capital funding (including pro bono goods and services) enabling the Victorian government to provide at least 75% of total capital development costs. • Philanthropy contributes establishment funding for initially unfunded support services.

11. HomeGround Supportive Housing– ending homelessness in Melbourne • Partnership opportunities • HomeGround Supportive Housing presents numerous opportunities for pro bono support, volunteering and community development. • A partnership with the Rotary Club of Melbourne can be tailored to meet the needs of both organisations and the residents. • The Rotary Club of Melbourne could assist HomeGround: • Advocacy - approach Federal, State and Local Governments for ongoing funding of services for both Elizabeth St and future projects • Philanthropic and Corporate support - approach philanthropy and businesses for establishment support of Elizabeth St and future projects • Community engagement - raise funds and public support by holding fundraising and aware raising events • Volunteer support - volunteer to directly support residents – for example participating in ‘life skills’ programs

12. ENDING HOMELESSNESS: • Housing • Support • Housing development • Advocacy • Research www.homeground.org.au