Mission Australia

Michael’s Intensive Supported Housing Accord Service (MISHA) (NSW)

Known as MISHA, Michael’s Intensive Supported Housing Accord Service is an integrated program for homeless men in Sydney’s west.

This initiative provides long-term stable accommodation while supporting the men to build the lives they would like to live.

Based in Parramatta, MISHA follows on from The Michael Project – a three-year initiative that aimed to improve the social inclusion of homeless men through intensive case management and wrap-around support services.

Results from this project, which ended in late 2010, will provide evidence for policies and programs for many years to come.

Further funding from The Michael Project’s generous benefactor is now enabling Mission Australia and its partners to progress to the next chapter through MISHA implementing a ‘housing-first’ approach.

MISHA began in late 2010 and will operate for a pilot period of three years. Working in partnership with Community Housing organisations, MISHA case managers, a psychologist and outreach engagement worker support chronically homeless men to achieve housing stability and gain the skills and confidence to successfully live within the community.

It is hoped that the research project commissioned to evaluate the MISHA service model will make a significant contribution to the evidence base and inform government policy in the housing and homelessness fields.

The first research findings, the How homeless men are faring: Baseline report from MISHA - 2012, are based on 75 men who were surveyed on entering the service. The report reveals that 20 per cent screened positive for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is four times higher than Australia’s mainstream male population. Download the baseline report to learn more.
 

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