MA Housing opens waiting list for ground-breaking housing project

MA Housing is seeking applications from eligible tenants for 42 brand new affordable housing units.

The Camperdown Project is located in Sydney’s inner-city and is based on the successful Common Ground model from New York.

The units, due to open their doors in October, will be offered to eligible low income households at less than 80% of market rent, under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS). Under the scheme, at least one member of the household must be employed and household income cannot exceed $44,128 for a single person or $61,006 for a couple.

This brand new six-storey development has been designed to an award winning 5-star green rating, evidenced by the abundance of natural light throughout the complex. A range of amenities will be located on the ground floor and a 24-hour, seven days a week concierge will service the secure access lobby.

Weekly rents start from $220 for a mixture of studios and one and two bedroom apartments.

As part of an integrated housing model, The Camperdown Project will also provide long-term housing and support for people experiencing homelessness, and is only suitable for people over the age of 18.

If you know someone who is in need of low-cost rental housing, please encourage them to contact MA Housing for more information.

Contact Adi, Brad or Sarah on the MA Housing hotline: 1800 269 672 or visit www.mahousing.com.au for more information.

MA Housing celebrates transfer of 494 homes

MA Housing staff and Board members have celebrated the new ownership of 494 homes officially transferred as part of the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan (NBESP) Stage 2.

To mark the milestone, new MA Housing Director Evelyn Horton took on her first official responsibility in cutting the cake at the MA Housing Board meeting on Wednesday.

“It’s a significant week for MA Housing,” said MA Housing CEO Andrew McAnulty. “Thanks to the NSW and Australian governments MA Housing will have the capacity to leverage these new assets to produce even more housing. Together, we are starting to address the affordable housing challenge.”

The 494 homes are part of 37 NBESP projects that were officially transferred from the NSW Government on 18 April, just under half of the total number of homes won by MA Housing in a competitive tender in 2010. In Sydney, the new homes are located at Chester Hill, Padstow, Revesby, Yagoona, Blackett, Blackheath, Blacktown, Blaxland, Cambridge Park, Kingswood, Lalor Park, Lethbridge Park, Mt Druitt, Seven Hills, Shalvey, St Marys, Werrington and Willmot.

On the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, MA Housing has also received properties in Coffs Harbour, Forster, Kempsey, Laurieton and Taree.

These 37 projects will house a variety of tenants, including families and elderly people from the central Housing NSW social housing waiting list. MA Housing aims to provide 1,200 social and affordable homes by 30 June 2011 and will continue to work in partnership with Housing NSW and private sector partners to increase the overall stock of affordable homes in the state.

In April 2010 the National Housing Supply Council reported that there was a 178,000 gap between housing demand and supply, which is predicted to grow to over 500,000 by 2020. MA Housing was established in April 2009 to help address the supply of affordable housing and to provide low income individuals and families with pathways away from homelessness.

Government Media Release: Mission Australia to provide accommodation support for young offenders in Riverina Murray

Mission Australia has been selected for an important accommodation support service in the Riverina Murray region aimed at helping young offenders with a history of homelessness gain independent living and stay out of custody, said John Hubby, Chief Executive, Juvenile Justice, Department of Human Services NSW, today.

"After a thorough tender process, the Supported Accommodation Service contract was awarded to Mission Australia for services in the Riverina Murray region.

"Mission Australia provided excellent value for money, and demonstrated vast experience and expertise in delivering similar services in the Riverina Murray. The contract provides more than $1.5 million to the organisation for the next three years," said Mr Hubby.

"The service will target young offenders aged 13 to 18 years with complex needs and a history of homelessness.

"It is important for the service to reach young people leaving detention, particularly Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander young people and those under 16 years old.

"The most recent survey of young people in custody revealed that six per cent were residing in unsettled accommodation or had 'no fixed place of abode', with young women representing 18 per cent. More than one-quarter (27 per cent) had moved two or more times in the six months prior to custody, and this was more for Aboriginal young people at nearly a third (32 per cent).

"By providing the Supported Accommodation Service, the Department of Human Services NSW is aiming to ensure lasting change in the life of a young offender with a history of homelessness, and assist in their reintegration into community living.

"Mission Australia will provide accommodation support to the young people including long term independent living options and social housing. They will develop individual case plans with the young people addressing offending behaviour, and deliver support services to improve their integration back into the community," said Mr Hubby.

Support services to be offered include:

• Improving a young person's social and community living skills;
• Providing vocational, educational and training opportunities;
• Linking young people to counselling; and
• Active involvement in the young person's family and support network.

"Accommodation services for young offenders with a history of homelessness will help to reduce the risk of them coming in and out of the criminal justice system," said Mr Hubby.

The Supported Accommodation Service is an initiative of the NSW Homelessness Action Plan. It is funded through the Commonwealth Government's 'National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness' whereby Commonwealth and States and Territories are working together to significantly reduce homelessness by 2013.

The Supported Accommodation Service will also be delivered in South West Sydney and the Mid and Far North Coast of NSW.

To access the NSW Homelessness Action Plan, visit the Housing NSW website:
www.housing.nsw.gov.au

Media Contacts: 

• Bernadette Rose, Juvenile Justice, Ph: 9219 9581 Mobile: 0459 808 716
• Leanne Budd, NSW Media Manager, Mission Australia, Ph: 9217 1082 Mobile: 0457 505 342

SA Government Media Release: New ways to tackle homelessness

Six organisations will share $100,000 in State and Commonwealth Government grants this year to find new ways to tackle homelessness.

The Minister for Housing, Jennifer Rankine said the organisations had been awarded grants from the Homelessness Innovation Fund through the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments’ National Affordable Housing Agreement to reduce homelessness.

“The aim of these grants is to provide one-off funding to develop and promote improvement that assists people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless,” she said.

“The successful organisations are encouraged to invest in innovative social programs that can be used right across the State.

“Social innovation refers to new strategies, projects, programs, concepts, ideas or organisations that meet socially recognised needs, strengthen society and provide community benefit.”

Among the successful organisations was Mission Australia, which, together with partners Ladder Incorporated, and Uniting Care Wesley Port Adelaide (Western Youth Service & Western Generic Homelessness Service), received $24,970 to develop a partnership group to help bring services more closely together. It will have a focus on employment outcomes for young people experiencing homelessness and drug and alcohol issues.

The group will work with about 50 young people in the western suburbs of Adelaide.

Media Release from Hon Jennifer Rankine, Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing and Minister for Disability

MA Housing welcomes 500th tenant

Yesterday’s welcome event for residents of MA Housing’s Blacktown development in western Sydney was made extra special when Jennifer Morgan arrived.

Jennifer is the proud tenant of MA Housing’s 500th home – a milestone celebrated at the gathering in Seven Hills that included Nathan Rees, State Member for Toongabbie, and Andrew McAnulty, CEO MA Housing.

Jennifer, who signed her lease in December, said her new home was “the best Christmas present” she’d ever received. She has since settled into the unit with her dog Tazzo, who she saved from the pound 13 years ago.

Before receiving the keys from MA Housing, Ms Morgan was desperate to find safe and affordable accommodation for herself and Tazzo. She has been renting in Sydney’s Lalor Park for seven years when her landlord decided to sell the home and gave her 30 days to vacate the premises.

Due to the severe housing shortage, Ms Morgan was unable to find a suitable – and pet-friendly – place to live and was at serious risk of homelessness.

Eventually, she found basic accommodation at the back of a suburban home, and there she lived without an oven and other important facilities for 18 months.

She was elated when MA Housing called to offer her a brand new pet-friendly unit in Seven Hills. She immediately accepted the home on first inspection.

“Since moving in, I now have enough money left over each week to do a proper grocery shop. The first meal I cooked in my new kitchen was a big traditional oven roast for my mother,” she said.

“I still pinch myself every morning to find I’ve woken up in my new home.”

To celebrate becoming MA Housing’s 500th tenant, Mr Rees and Mr McAnulty presented Ms Morgan with a bunch of flowers, a gift voucher and a photo of herself and Tazzo.

MA Housing – which is part of Mission Australia – has recently taken handover of 35 new homes in the Blacktown Local Government Area, which will provide quality housing for individuals and families.

Located across the Sydney suburbs of Seven Hills, Blacktown, and Lalor Park, they have been built as part of the Australian Government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan, and will be owned and managed by MA Housing.

Mr McAnulty said that these new developments are making a significant contribution through the creation of more homes for people on low and moderate incomes in Sydney’s west.

“Sydney has a significant affordable housing challenge,” he said. “Thanks to the NSW and Australian governments, these homes – and others being built around the state – are an important step in overcoming the issue.

“Housing NSW should be commended for the design and quality of these new homes. MA Housing’s vision around these homes is to make a long-term and positive difference in the area. By providing good quality homes, more secure homes, more affordable homes we’re helping build stronger communities.”

Media Release: MA Housing hosts 500th home celebration and event for new tenants

Community housing provider, MA Housing, is holding a 500th home celebration and ‘welcome’ event for residents of its new housing developments in the Blacktown area at 12 noon on Monday, 21 February (details below).

MA Housing – part of Mission Australia – has recently taken handover of 35 newly built homes in the Blacktown local government area to provide quality housing for individuals and families.

The homes have been built as part of the Australian government’s nation building economic stimulus plan, and will be owned and managed by MA Housing. The houses are located across the suburbs of Seven Hills, Blacktown, and Lalor Park.

MA Housing’s 500th home was recently tenanted by Jennifer Morgan at the Seven Hills development. Ms Morgan, who signed her lease on 17 December 2010, says her new home was “the best Christmas present” she had ever received.

Ms Morgan had been renting in Sydney’s Lalor Park for seven years when her landlord decided to sell the home and gave her 30 days to vacate the premises.

Due to the severe housing shortage, Ms Morgan was unable to find any suitable places to live and was at serious risk of homelessness. Eventually, she found basic accommodation at the back of a suburban home, and there she lived without an oven and other important facilities for 18 months paying $250 per week.

Ms Morgan was elated when MA Housing called to offer her a brand new pet-friendly unit in Seven Hills. At the inspection she immediately accepted the home without having to give up ‘Tazzo’ – the little dog she had saved from the pound 13 years earlier.

“Since moving in, I now have enough money left over each week to do a proper grocery shop. The first meal I cooked in my new kitchen was a big traditional oven roast for my mother,” said Ms Morgan.

“I still pinch myself every morning to find I’ve woken up in my new home.”

MA Housing’s CEO, Andrew McAnulty, said these new developments are making a significant contribution in creating more homes for people on low and moderate incomes in Sydney’s west.

“Sydney has a significant affordable housing challenge. Thanks to the NSW and Australian governments these homes – and others being built around the state – are an important step in overcoming the issue,” said Mr McAnulty.

“Housing NSW should be commended for the design and quality of these new homes.

“MA Housing’s vision around these homes is to make a long-term and positive difference in the area. By providing good quality homes, more secure homes, more affordable homes we’re helping build stronger communities.”

Details:

• What: MA Housing 500th home celebration and ‘welcome’ for tenants of its new Blacktown developments.
• When: 12 noon to 1:30pm, Monday 21 February 2011
• Where: 33-38 Eighth Avenue, Seven Hills
• Who: Tenants for the new homes including Jennifer Morgan, MA Housing’s 500th tenant; Nathan Rees, State Member for Toongabbie; and Andrew McAnulty, CEO MA Housing.
• Interviews and photographs available with special guests and tenants.
• Media contact: Sally Popplestone 0415 547 626

MA Housing welcomes its Wauchope tenants

MA Housing hosted a 'welcome' event on Monday for residents of its new housing development in the Wauchope area.

MA Housing – part of Mission Australia – has recently taken handover of 27 newly built homes in Wauchope and Laurieton with another 28 to follow in Port Macquarie designed to provide quality housing for individuals and families.

The homes have been built as part of the Australian Government’s Nation Building economic stimulus plan and will be owned and managed by MA Housing.

MA Housing’s CEO, Andrew McAnulty, said the new homes were a significant contribution to creating more affordable housing in regional NSW.

“Australia has an affordable housing challenge. These homes – and others being built around the state thanks to the NSW and Federal governments – are an important step to overcoming the issue,” Mr McAnulty said.

“Housing NSW should be commended for the design and quality of these new homes.

“MA Housing’s vision around these homes is to make a long-term and positive difference in the area. By providing good quality homes, more secure homes, more affordable homes we’re helping build stronger communities.”

Kathy Cox OAM, who has been a Wauchope resident for almost three decades, was among the new tenants who joined in the celebrations.

“We haven’t been living in the project long, so it’s still new. But it seems really well set up,” Ms Cox told The Wauchope Gazette. “The layout means there is good privacy and security. The peace and quiet is fabulous, especially for those of us who haven’t had it.

“I like the layout. I’m in a cluster of five other houses, which means you have a good chance for both privacy and to develop good neighbourly relations.

“I couldn’t be happier,” she added. “You just have to talk to the tenants here to know how much they appreciate the security… MA Housing has done a really good thing.”

Above photo: Denise Bartlett, Gail George, Francis Brazil, Sharon Kent, Angela Roberts, Kathy Cox, Thelma Campbell, Michael Wong, Andrew McAnulty, Geoff Carney and Kelly Innes.  Photo courtesy of The Wauchope Gazette.

Further reading...

• MA Housing welcomes new residents
  
• A helping hand into a home
  
• 1,043 reasons for MA Housing to celebrate
  

1,043 reasons for MA Housing to celebrate

In February 2010, Housing NSW opened a tender process for the stock transfer of 4,551 new homes being delivered as part of the ‘Nation Building Social Housing Initiative’ within New South Wales.

“The 1,043 homes awarded to MA Housing represent 23 per cent of the total tender and equates to $317 million of new build asset transfer,” said Andrew McAnulty, CEO MA Housing.

“In addition to the 1,043 'social homes' under Nation Building, we are committed to developing a substantial number of additional affordable homes, the majority of which will be completed over the next five years,” said Andrew.

The win provides MA Housing with a solid springboard as they position themselves for further growth in both NSW and other states and territories.

“MA Housing has achieved these outcomes by levering the strength of Mission Australia,” said Andrew. “Ultimately, it’s about our ability to combine service delivery for our clients.”

Of the 17 housing packages offered by Housing NSW, MA Housing won three, which cover the geographical areas of Blacktown, Penrith, Blue Mountains, Bankstown, Greater Taree, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Kempsey, Coffs Harbour, and Great Lakes.

“The locations of homes are particularly pertinent to us, especially Blacktown and Penrith where we already have extensive MA services in place.

“While we still have significant work to do to deliver this opportunity, I’m extremely confident that we possess the organisational capacity and determination to deliver a high quality outcome for our new residents and wider stakeholders,” said Andrew.

Building MA Housing brick by brick

“Mission Australia Housing (MA Housing) has a big picture vision for urban regeneration and transformation; a vision for healthy, well-functioning and integrated communities,” said Andrew McAnulty, the MA Housing Chief Executive Officer.

“As part of delivering this vision, we now operate in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, with plans to commence services in South Australia and, ideally, the Northern Territory by the end of 2010.”

For an organisation in its first year of operation, MA Housing has chalked up an impressive list of achievements.

“On 1 March, we took our 108th home into management. We have many more homes in the pipeline, including: six to be developed in Kingswood, 104 homes in Camperdown (to go on-site in June 2010) and 100 homes in various well-located sites around NSW.

“In February, we submitted an expression of interest for the stock transfer of social housing and the development of further affordable housing in NSW, and we are currently reviewing a significant opportunity in the Northern Territory,” said Andrew.

“We are in partnerships to provide 36 additional homes in Tasmania and a substantial project in Victoria, together with a range of further tenders and bids for funding,” said Andrew.

“The strength of the Mission Australia family has meant that we are also engaged in discussing opportunities with Government and other partners in South Australia and Western Australia, and we will shortly be taking forward discussions in Queensland.”

Andrew is well versed in the intricacies of delivering affordable housing. Prior to moving to Australia, he spent more than 15 years with three diverse housing associations in the UK, together with the multi-award winning Stonebridge Housing Action Trust, one of London’s largest single site regeneration schemes.

“It is incredibly exciting to be at Mission Australia Housing. I believe that we will succeed in creating something special if we focus on providing a very good quality customer focused service for our residents, whilst also linking into the strength of the services offered by Mission Australia,” said Andrew.

“With the continued support of Mission Australia, local, state and federal Governments, MA Housing intends to become a landlord of choice, providing a customer-orientated service and a range of housing solutions for those in housing need.”

Inner City Housing Project making long-term progress with Sydney's roughsleepers

The Daily Telegraph newspaper today has a story on a Mission Australia initiative that is delivering significant results in the lives of mentally ill homeless people and for the broader community.

The Inner City Housing Program (ICHP) is response to the challenges faced by mentally ill people who sleep rough in Sydney’s inner city.

An estimated 80% of roughsleepers have serious mental health problems – schizophrenia, bi-polar, depression, anxiety disorders and mental trauma.

In Sydney, a regular outcome for this client group is that, because they lack the intensive support they need for their condition, they’re often admitted to hospital for psychiatric care.

Hospital admission is an extremely costly option and offers only short term support – it isn’t long before they’re discharged back on the streets…and the cycle begins again.

It costs the government around $900 per night to provide a person with mental illness hospital care. In fact, there are estimates it has cost NSW Health up to $60,000 a year to provide emergency medical care to a homeless person with mental illness in the past.

The Inner City Housing Program (ICHP) – which Mission Australia runs in partnership with St Vincent's Hospital and Churches Community Housing – has had terrific results at turning people's lives around while saving the state's health budget huge amounts of money.

The ICHP provides long-term (usually 18-24 months) supported accommodation in six inner city terraces where counsellors work with residents to stay healthy and develop living skills (eg: grocery shopping, food preparation) which are essential to maintaining permanent accommodation. The idea is that after stabilising their lives at ICHP Mission Australia can then move them forward into independent living.

Only 4 per cent of people arrive at ICHP from stable housing. After clients spend an average of 18 months with the program, we have been successful in moving more than 70 per cent into independent accommodation.

Even better, the ICHP delivers huge savings. Compared to the $900 per night to provide someone with psychiatric care in hospital it costs ICHP around $35 per night to give someone a bed and provide the support they need.

And in terms of managing people’s mental health needs, ICHP's results speak for themselves...

Brian* (not real name) entered ICHP in May 2008. Prior to ICHP he had spent 133 days in hospital with mental illness. Since coming to ICHP he’s not been admitted once.

Sarah* (not real name) entered ICHP in October 2008. Prior to arriving she had spent 70 days in hospital. Again, since coming to ICHP, Sarah’s not been admitted to hospital a single day.

But ICHP can only help around 20 residents at a time. Mission Australia would love to assist more – we know the demand is out there – but we just don’t have the resources.

By any measure ICHP is a more successful and significantly cheaper method of providing long-term assistance to roughsleepers with mental health issues than the alternative.

Mission Australia encourages the NSW Government to consider directing some of the money they invest in emergency mental health care for this client group into ICHP - and services like it - and expand their capacity.

It would result in better outcomes for the individuals, the community and the state’s health budget.

It’s just common sense.

*Names have been changed to protect client's identity

Is there a doctor in the house?

Homeless residents of Mission Australia’s Roma House in Brisbane are benefiting from free legal health checks thanks to law firm Freehills and the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House Incorporated (QPILCH).

More than 20 Freehills lawyers have volunteered to administer the legal check, which screens the residents for debt, housing, crime and family legal issues.

Research has shown that disadvantaged clients are not often aware of their legal issues, nor do they seek legal assistance.

"The new clinic at Roma House provides the opportunity for lawyers to actively engage with the clients," Freehills solicitor and Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic team leader Sam Brown said.

"The legal health check has enabled the clients to address the issues and be free of the court system," she said. "It enables them to get on with their lives and focus on what their future may be once they are no longer homeless," said Roma House manager Rachel Watson.

The legal health check project is funded by Roma House and Streetsmart, a fundraising initiative whereby restaurant patrons can financially support homeless services by adding a small amount to their restaurant bill. Details of participating restaurants can be found at www.streetsmartaustralia.org/findrestaurant.

• Mission Australia's Community Services in Queensland
• Roma House - for further reading click here

MA Housing joins the Camperdown Project

MA Housing – a division of Mission Australia  – has been announced as the community housing provider of Sydney’s innovative social housing initiative, the Camperdown Project.

The NSW Minister for Housing, David Borger, made the announcement yesterday at a media conference held to discuss the Development Application for the Camperdown Project with the City of Sydney.

The initiative – based on the successful Common Ground model in New York – provides formerly homeless people with long-term housing and in-house access to support services.

New York’s Common Ground has reduced the city’s chronically homeless by 50% in just five years.

MA Housing will work collaboratively with project partners, Housing NSW and the building’s developer, Grocon Consortium, to provide ongoing tenancy and building management for the project.

MA Housing’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew McAnulty, said breaking the cycle of homelessness has become increasingly difficult in recent years because of the lack of affordable and appropriate long term housing for clients.

"The Camperdown Project will bring together a mix of long-term accommodation for people who have been chronically homeless and affordable rental housing for low-income workers,” Mr McAnulty said.

“From our experiences, we know what works in affordable housing for workers and in short-term housing for homeless people. The Camperdown Project takes a long-term approach to dealing with homelessness, and we’re looking forward to being involved.”

Minister Borger said MA Housing had demonstrated a strong capacity to manage complex tenancies on a long term basis.

“This is particularly important for this new integrated supportive social housing model, designed to help people who are homeless or on low incomes,” Mr Borger said.

"MA Housing will be involved in the development of a support services model with a range of community support providers and Housing NSW, to ensure that future tenants receive the support services they need to sustain their tenancies.”

MAC hosts community and government leaders to launch new report

Mission Australia's latest report An icon for exit: The Mission Australia Centre 2005-2008 was launched yesterday by the Hon. Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Housing , at the Mission Australia Centre (MAC) in Sydney's inner-city suburb of Surry Hills.

A s the name suggests, An icon for exit provides a detailed review of the 'all-round' programs run through MAC from 2005-2008.

The event featured a key speech from a MAC client, who provided insight into the practical needs of those trying to overcome crisis. He noted that it was MAC's ability to provide a range of diverse services "under the same roof" that enabled him to transform his life.

The event's speakers reinforced the need for modern service providers to facilitate 'all-round' services - a wide array of services is required by those seeking a sustainable solution to their crisis, such as employment services, medical and dental support, legal support, educational services, financial literacy training and conflict resolution.

Senator Mark Arbib, Federal Minister for Employment Participation, also attended to officially launch Mission Australia Employment Solutions , which facilitates the Federal Government's Job Services Australia program.

Download a free copy of An icon for exit: The Mission Australia Centre 2005-2008

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Further reading

Sydney Morning Herald ran a story today about the journey of two MAC clients, read on at the Fairfax website

Key facts from the report:

• Clients achieved 80% of their goals compared to 42% at the crisis shelter the MAC replaced (an important part of working with homeless clients is to set a goal, eg: to find independent accommodation, to beat drug addiction, etc, and work towards achieving it).
• Of clients leaving the MAC there was a 10% decline in people returning to the streets and a 6% increase in those living in a house or flat. Studies show that of men leaving traditional crisis accommodation, around 18% simply move to another short-term shelter while almost 45% return to living on the streets or squat.
• Following their time at MAC, there was a significant decline in the proportion of clients reliant on the Newstart Allowance - 58% down to 48% - and an increase in the proportion whose income came from wages/salary - from 7% to 14%.
• 48% of MAC clients weren't in the labour force before coming to the service, after leaving the centre this dropped to 36%.
• Clients stay at the MAC for an average 68 days compared to the 1-3 days at the previous service. Longer stays mean better results.
• MAC provides its full range of supports for only $154 a day per person. This is a significantly lower cost per day than providing a bed in another institutional setting (eg: hospital $600/pd or jail $200/pd).

New report shows groundbreaking homeless service is a success

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 Icon for Exit report - 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:

• Clients achieved 80% of their goals compared to 42% at the crisis shelter the MAC replaced (an important part of working with homeless clients is to set a goal, eg: to find independent accommodation, to beat drug addiction, etc, and work towards achieving it).
• Of clients leaving the MAC there was a 10% decline in people returning to the streets and a 6% increase in those living in a house or flat. Studies show that of men leaving traditional crisis accommodation, around 18% simply move to another short-term shelter while almost 45% return to living on the streets or squat.
• Following their time at MAC, there was a significant decline in the proportion of clients reliant on the Newstart Allowance - 58% down to 48% - and an increase in the proportion whose income came from wages/salary - from 7% to 14%.
• 48% of MAC clients weren't in the labour force before coming to the service, after leaving the centre this dropped to 36%.
• Clients stay at the MAC for an average 68 days compared to the 1-3 days at the previous service. Longer stays mean better results.
• MAC provides its full range of supports for only $154 a day per person. This is a significantly lower cost per day than providing a bed in another institutional setting (eg: hospital $600/pd or jail $200/pd).

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."

Four Corners' Last Chance Motel - A timely reminder of the reality of Homelessness

Mission Australia welcomed Sarah Ferguson's report on Monday night - 'Last Chance Motel - which aimed to present the reality of homelessness for families stuck in a cycle of temporary housing.

As expected, the families featured all have their own stories to tell - when it comes to homelessness there is no stereotype: it is a situation arising from system failure rather than human failure.

As one father mentioned: "I've always had this picture in my head of a homeless person... they've got torn dirty clothes, they're not shaven, they're sort of sitting out on the corner looking for a handout… I'm not in that category but I don't have a home for my family and it's really embarrassing."

Homelessness is a symptom that arises from the combination of a low-income, a tight rental market favouring prejudice and a public housing system that has been systematically scaled back over the past decade.

As one mother mentioned in the program, how is she supposed to perform her role as mother while they have their family packed into a single hotel room and living out of boxes? Long-term 'temporary' accommodation is hardly the solution.

While rental properties are pricing low-income earners out of the market, there needs to be adequate public housing to meet the demand - but taxpayer funded 'temporary' accommodation should only ever be just that...temporary.