Corrections Victoria
Housing Innovations
Felicity Munt
Manager Housing
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Introduction
 Stable accommodation plays a critical role in reducing the likelihood
of re-offending.
 The number of times an offender moved was one of the highest
predictive factors of their likelihood to re-offend.
 With the numbers of people in the criminal justice system increasing
over the last two decades, this is also a growing group of people at
risk of homelessness.
 Exiting prisoners are often vulnerable, unable to maintain
accommodation and may become repeat users of specialist
homelessness services – often presenting in crisis.
 A growing number of people remaining in prison due to lack of
housing.
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Corrections Victoria Housing Project
 The Corrections Victoria Housing Project was
initiated in response to:
An increasing prisoner population
Lack of affordable housing throughout Victoria
The link between homelessness and recidivism
The complex and unique housing and support
requirements of exiting offenders.
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Project Rationale
The Corrections Victoria Housing Project
(CVHP) aims:
 To reduce the risk of re-offending.
 Reduce costs associated with crime.
 Address disadvantage by targeting
exiting offenders identified as at risk of
homelessness.
 Reduce prison numbers.
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Prevalence
 A recent audit of the VISAT indicated that over 11% of
offenders that had completed this assessment were
homeless prior to incarceration.
 The overall indication of homelessness or unstable
housing amongst prisoners with VISAT records is 34.1%
(712 prisoners) as at 30 March 2010, compared with
30.7% (560 prisoners) as at May 31 2009.
 Of the 712 prisoners identified as homeless or in
unstable housing prior to entering prison as at 30 March
2010, 317 were identified as high risk of re-offending.
 Of the 114 women with VISAT records, 50 (43.9%)
women were identified as homeless or in unstable
accommodation prior to entering prison.
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Prisoner Consultations
 Didn’t identify as homeless and/ or unstable
housing, even though most would be assessed
as homeless :
“I hook up to get a place sometimes”
“I had my clothes at mums and that was my base,
then I just stayed at friends”
“Most of us stay in boarding houses or with mates”
“I can’t get private rental, so I usually end up in a
shared house”
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The Housing Environment
 The lowest rental vacancy rates in Victoria in over a decade
 Scarcity of public housing forces people into the private market and the
numbers of homeless and/or unsuitably housed continues to climb.
 Public housing sector that has been further stretched and facing an
increasing demand from the broader Victorian community, especially
since the global financial crisis and 2009 Victorian bushfires.
 More people living in single households
Significant reform in the housing sector.
 Federal Governments Economic Stimulus Package Nation Building
initiative.
 The Federal Government’s White Paper on Homelessness: The Road
Home: A National Approach to Reducing Homelessness.
 A commitment from the State Government to reduce exits into
Homelessness from prisons by 25%.
 Open Doors Framework – a place based integration of housing services.
 A renewed partnership between CV and OOH and a commitment to 7
address any and all exclusion practices.
Original Project Targets
The Project will target exiting offenders that are:
• assessed as being able to successfully participate
in a transitional supported housing program
• at high risk of homelessness and /or a history of
homelessness
• primarily single men
• any age group, with a majority of residents
expected to be in the 26 - 44 years age group
• at risk of re-offending.
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New Targeted Reponses
 Exiting male prisoners with a cognitive disability
 Exiting female prisoners with complex issues
 Exiting male and female prisoners with
dependent children:
 The project is currently also working on
specialist responses for Indigenous, youth (18 –
26) and aged (55+) prisoners.
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Targets and Actual
The Project’s target is to secure 78 places by June 2012.
2008 - 2009
2009 – 2010
2010 – 2011
2011 - 2012
Target
33
53
68
78
Predicted
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80
153
253
Year
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A partnership Approach
Department
of JusticeCorrections
Victoria
Provision of capital funds
for the purchase of
properties, under the
auspices of
The Director of Housing.
Department of Human
Services -Office of
Housing.
Distribution
of capital
funds under
the auspices
of The
Director of
Housing.
Contract management
of recurrent funding
and project outputs.
Registered Housing
Agency
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RHA Model
 A housing association is a not-for-profit organisation that develops,
owns and manages rental housing for people on low incomes.
 Housing associations:
 Are registered and regulated through the Victorian Government’s
Housing Registrar.
 Undergo a rigorous assessment process
 Must be in a position to expand the supply of affordable rental
housing.
 Can borrow against the properties they own.
 They are well-placed to attract support from other partners.
 For every dollar spent by the government, they attract an extra
25 to 30 per cent from private, philanthropic and local
government sources.
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CV Supported Housing Program
Initiative is not a ‘housing-only’ response
 Housing first model
 Housing is linked to current pre and post-release
services which may include:
 education, training and employment assistance
 family counselling
 drug and alcohol services
 basic living skills training.
 An average of 12 months service delivery, including
assessment and case planning pre-release and a ‘step
down’ program towards the end of the 12 month period.
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The Model
 A partnership between CV, DHS and suitable RHAs.
 Transitional accommodation – average of nine months,
transitioning into long term accommodation options.
 Investment in RHAs in return for accommodation places
‘capacity’ within a large pool of properties, to allow
flexibility for client needs and neighbourhood fatigue.
 Supported Housing Model – eligible clients must engage
with case management/ support.
 Central Coordination Point within CV, including common
intake and referral.
 Increased capacity of new HIR workers, and front end
workers via OoH.
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New Initiatives
Supported Transitional Accommodation
Project
Elizabeth Street Common Ground
New Women's Housing Response
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Questions
Questions
Felicity Munt
03 8684 7105
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