The NSW Government has
developed a plan to address the problem of homeless people sleeping rough around
inner Sydney. It
came about in order to guide the Partnership Against Homelessness, a Department
of Housing led initiative bringing together 12 NSW Government agencies that fund
or administer programs for homeless people (established in
1999).
Phase One of the plan saw
the Department of Housing establish the Homelessness Action Team Support and
Outreach Service.
Other work included the
Inner City Sydney Aboriginal Homeless Research Project managed by the Aboriginal
Housing Office, My Place Homeless Leases Initiative managed by the Office of
Community Housing and brokerage funding via the Department of Ageing, Disability
and Home Care and the Department of Community
Services.
Representatives from
government and the community sector met to work out what Phase Two of the plan
would look like. In terms of its scope, Phase Two is a four year plan covering
the January 2007 – January 2011 period. It will include short, medium and
long-term objectives and prioritise support for people with mental illness,
development of effective housing and support models, early intervention for
rough sleepers and a response to Aboriginal
homelessness.
Further information can be
found on NSW Department of Housing website: www.housing.nsw.gov.au
Source: PIAC E~Mail Bulletin No.
169 with thanks to National Tenant Support Network (National TSN)