Prevention of Homelessness. What
does it mean for the Salvation Army?
Netty Horton
Territorial Social Programme Director
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Salvation Army Social Programmes
 Southern Territory
 600 social programmes including emergency relief,
housing and homelessness, drug and alcohol, children
and family services
 $300 million
 Every night providing 600 crisis and 4,000 non crisis
beds and over 80,000 meals
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Homelessness Prevention
Often used term
 Prevention vs early intervention vs crisis
response
 Saving $
 Saving costly impact on lives of individuals
and families
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The Salvation Army Australia Southern
Territory
Government White Paper 2008 – “The Road
Home”
“Turning off the Tap” – A Focus on Prevention
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Prevention and early intervention are the most effective and
efficient ways to reduce homelessness.
Prevention strategies need to be given a greater focus in the
future homelessness response.
Prevention strategies should be focused on key transition
points and life events.
There are many examples of successful prevention strategies
at the local level.
Over the next 10 years, effort should be focused on
delivering evidence-based prevention at scale across the
country.
Specific responses are required for different cohorts.
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Turning off the Tap Initiatives
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Initiatives under this strategy include:
Increasing support for people in public and private rental housing to maintain their
tenancies (HA 8/10)
Assisting up to 9,000 additional young people between 12 and 18 years of age to remain
connected with their families (HA 6/10)
Assisting up to 2,250 additional families at risk of homelessness to stay housed (HA
10/10)
‘No exits into homelessness’ from statutory, custodial care, health, mental health and drug
and alcohol services (HA /10)
Helping women and children who experience domestic violence to stay safely in the family
Home (HA 5/10)
Delivering community based mental health services under the Personal Helpers and
Mentors Program (PHAMs) to 1,000 difficult to reach Australians, including people who
are homeless (HA 7/10)
Establishing a network of 90 Community Engagement Officers to improve access to
Centrelink services for people at risk of homelessness. (HA 9/10)
The Salvation Army Australia Southern
Territory
Victorian Homelessness Action Plan
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The Government, through the Victorian
Homelessness Action Plan, will:
support innovative approaches to homelessness
investigate models that focus specifically on early
intervention and prevention
better target resources when and where they are
most needed and where they will make the
biggest difference.
We will build a service system that meets a range
of needs where people are able to access help,
advice and assistance where and when they need
it.
The Salvation Army Australia Southern
Territory
Key Issues
Causes of homelessness are structural
and should be addressed as part of a
partnership approach between and across
Governments, and between and across
service providers.
 National Partnership Agreement on
Homelessness– Existing and Future
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The Salvation Army Australia Southern
Territory
Key Issues continued
Difference between early intervention and
prevention and does it matter?
Yes
And
No!
The Salvation Army Australia Southern
Territory
What does TSA do already?
Prevention (little)
 Early Intervention (some)
 Crisis (most)
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The Salvation Army Australia Southern
Territory
The Economic Social Impact Survey
What people did and felt in response to their financial situations.
Felt stressed about the future?
71%
Cut down on luxuries?
68%
Asked for help from a welfare or community organisation.?
66%
Delayed or been unable to pay electricity, gas or telephone
bill/s on time?
59%
Cut down on basic necessities?
59%
Asked for financial help from friends or family?
56%
Gone without meals?
52%
Needed to sell or pawn possessions?
45%
Experienced new conflict with your family?
35%
Delayed or been unable to pay rent or mortgage on time?
35%
Taken on new debt (loans, credit cards etc)?
25%
Moved to more affordable housing?
21%
Attempted to supplement income by gambling (e.g. pokies)?
Done nothing different?
9%
3%
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
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“I have never struggled this much before.”
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“There are times I think I am better off not alive.”
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“Thought about selling my stuff, but there is not much to sell. I’m
poor.”
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“Everything is so expensive now – I feel helpless.”
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“Feel like I have hit lowest point and no one is there to help.”
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“I’m trying so hard not to be in this position – it makes me cry
some nights.”
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“The rising cost of living and no change in income makes living
week to week (let alone day to day) and feeding my family very
difficult.”
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Findings 2
The essentials of life – what I don’t have.
Up to $500 in savings for an emergency
94%
A weeks holdiday away from home each year
89%
Home contents insurance
87%
Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance
73%
A hobby or leisure (out of school) activity for children
58%
Dental Treatment if required
57%
Presents for family or friends at least once a year
51%
Up to date schoolbooks and new school clothers
43%
A yearly dental check up for children
42%
Computer skills
42%
A separate bedroom for each child over 10
41%
Regular social contact with other people
37%
Able to buy medicines prescribed by a doctor
37%
Children can participate in school activities and outlings
Roof and gutters that don't leak
Secure locks on doors and windows
Heating in at least one room
36%
35%
34%
33%
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Findings 3
Multiple deprivations
11 or more indicators
36%
5-10 indicators
50%
4 indicators
3 indicators
2 indicators
1 indicator
5%
4%
3%
2%
Saunders et al (2007) note that severe levels of deprivation correspond
to missing our on at least 5 or more area simultaneously
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Prevention
Advocacy
 Big Picture, income, affordable housing,
education, community building
 Implications: Diverting Mission Support
Funding
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The Salvation Army Australia Southern
Territory
Conclusions
Homelessness appears as TSA’s “core
business.”
Prevention is our ultimate goal
Should prevention be our service goal, or is
it one of many?
The Salvation Army Australia Southern
Territory