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New report shows groundbreaking homeless service is a success |
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| 02 Nov 2009 |
 A report into a groundbreaking Sydney homeless service shows it has delivered improved accommodation, employment and goal-achievement outcomes, a reduction in the need for income support and all at a significantly lower cost per day than providing a bed in another institutional setting (eg: hospital or jail).The report An icon for exit: The Mission Australia Centre 2005-2008 - an analysis of the outcomes of the Mission Australia Centre (MAC) in Sydney's Surry Hills since it first opened in July 2005 - will be launched by Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Housing, and Senator Mark Arbib, Federal Minister for Employment Participation at the centre (cnr Campbell and Denham Sts, Surry Hills) at 11.30am, Monday 2 November. The first service of its kind built in Australia, the MAC moves beyond traditional crisis accommodation to meet the needs of a new generation of homeless people. Rather than the short-term and 'one-size fits all' approach often associated with crisis shelters, the MAC specialises its care, encourages independent living, allows clients stays of up to three months and offers a range of services (eg: dental, GP, education, computer skills, counselling, employment) to help people back on their feet long-term. According to the report - which covers the period 2005-08 - the MAC's results include:
Mission Australia's CEO, Toby Hall, said the MAC's results provided governments and other agencies with a successful model for developing future homeless services. "When we built the MAC in 2005 we based our plans on our own experiences, research among other agencies and what we saw working overseas - this service really was a first for this country," said Mr Hall. "Now we have the results that show the MAC approach works. Yes, we still have much to do and there are challenges ahead, but the move towards more tailored and long-term support that encourages independent living is the way to get homeless people back on their feet. "Importantly the MAC has developed into a community hub providing a large range of services - not only to its residents, but the entire inner city community. "The MAC's success has only been possible through collaboration - between us, the three levels of government, our peer organisations, and the generous support of individual and corporate partners. "The most exciting thing about these results is that they come at a time when both the Federal and NSW State Governments are considering their respective plans for tackling homelessness. "We hope they both examine these findings and use the MAC's experiences to plan the next generation of homeless services," said Mr Hall. The Federal Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek, said the MAC - which she has visited several times as it is located in her electorate of Sydney - was setting a high standard for future service delivery. "The Rudd Government's White Paper on Homelessness identifies the need for early intervention, targeted support and wrap-around services to help break the cycle of homelessness," Ms Plibersek said. "These types of services are exactly what we need if we are going to meet our ambitious goal to halve homelessness by 2020." Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
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