OLDER WOMEN AND HOMELESSNESS SEMINAR [PDF]

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OLDER WOMEN AND HOMELESSNESS SEMINAR A REPORT ON THE PROCEEDINGS Prepared BY DMA for National Council of Women ACT (NCWA) Held 31 October 2013, Southern Cross Club, Woden

CONTENTS A Word From The NWCA-ACT ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 3   What We Know ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4   What We Heard – Session 1: Causes And Issues ............................................................................................................................................................. 5   What We Heard – Session 2: Status Quo ....................................................................................................................................................................... 6   What We Heard – Session 3: Possible Solutions .............................................................................................................................................................. 7   What We Heard – Session 3: Panel Discussion ................................................................................................................................................................ 8   What Does This Mean, What Are The Opportunities ......................................................................................................................................................... 9   About Design Managers Australia (DMA) .......................................................................................................................................................................10   Appendix 1 – Seminar Agenda .....................................................................................................................................................................................11   Appendix 2 – Presentations .........................................................................................................................................................................................12   Appendix 3 – Speakers Notes ......................................................................................................................................................................................17  

Older Women and Homelessness Seminar – 31 October 2013

Page 2 of 24

A WORD FROM THE NWCA-ACT The National Council of Women has a long history of responding to issues faced by women and their families in our community. As an umbrella organisation it represents women across a broad spectrum of society. As part of its mission statement it acts 'as a voice or agent of communications at State/Territory, National and International levels on issues and concerns of women.' The holding of forums is an ideal means of addressing concerns to raise awareness and to seek ways to resolve issues. The 'Older Women and Homelessness' theme for the Seminar set out to look at the causes, the present provision of services and solutions for the future by bringing together service providers in the ACT to speak about their roles. There are women who are homeless and immediate support is vital. There are also women who are at risk of homelessness because of inequalities in the work force, poor superannuation provision and the insufficient supply of housing which is secure, safe and affordable. These issues can be addressed. Everyone has the right to have a place to call home, it is more than housing - among other things it brings worth, dignity, social interaction and participation. The presenters and the participants in the panel discussion addressed these concerns and highlighted changes. NCWACT extends its appreciation to all the speakers and panelists for making the day informative and raising awareness for the work to be done in the future. This includes research into incidence, implementation of ways to reduce the possibility of homelessness and the way in which services are provided. Thank you also to Mr Shane Rattenbury MLA,Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Housing, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs and Minister for Ageing, who opened the Seminar. The Seminar Committee worked tirelessly under the leadership of Margaret Findlater-Smith to make the day so successful-thank you to each one of them and also to the NCWACT members and delegates who attended.

When the National Council of Women of ACT started the journey towards planning and organising the seminar, we knew that there was an issue about older women and homelessness, but until I started talking to people working in the housing and homelessness field I had no idea of the extent of the problem I knew two women who had been homelessness – both had managed their lives well and had no idea of the path they were on – the path to homelessness. Both are now housed and all is well, but it showed me that a sudden and unexpected event can have far-reaching consequences. How we plan for these sudden changes in circumstances is problematical, More important is how we deal with it and there is no doubt that there is an urgent need for more affordable housing. The gap between what is considered “affordable” and what potential tenants can afford to pay is wide. We hope that this seminar has been the start of a conversation and will ensure that agencies and providers are prepared for what one presenter described as a “tsunami that is going to happen”

Margaret Findlater-Smith Convenor

THE NCWA-ACT ALSO GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE ASSISTANCE OF CANBERRA SCC, CANBERRA MOTHERCRAFT SOCIETY.

On behalf of NCWACT I would also to thank The Southern Cross Club and The Canberra Mothercraft Society for their sponsorship and Design Managers Australia for their generosity in facilitating the event in such a professional manner and for the preparation of this seminar report. Without the support of these organisations we would not have been able to hold the seminar in this way.

Wendy Saclier President - ACT

Older Women and Homelessness Seminar – 31 October 2013

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WHAT WE KNOW The following statistics, facts and references focus on the Affordable Housing Demand, which was presented in Session 1: Issues and Causes by Helen DalleyFisher, Program Manager, Equality Rights Alliance. 105237

 

 

60000  

Between 2006 and 2011, homelessness increased 17.3%

Community   Housing   Applicants  (in   Greatest  Need)  

50000  

COAG Reform Council

40000  

89728

22952   33275  

30000   21860  

24992  

Community   Housing   Applicants  (Not   in  Greatest   Need)  

20000  

60%  

30%  

10000  

53%   Mortgage  Stress  

50%   40%  

26952  

2011  

 

33% 23%  

40%   Rental  Stress  (Private   Market)  

20%   10%  

In 2011, the median rent as a percentage of median income was 26.9%. While housing costs continue to outstrip income growth across the board, the issue of rental affordability is not felt equally by all.

Housing supply and 0%   demand is driven All   Low-­‐income   largely by middle-toHouseholds   Households   high-income ownerinvestors and renters, making the private rental market increasingly difficult for lowmedium income renters. Public policy continues to support this pattern by providing more government assistance in the purchase of investment properties than to first homes. Rental affordability for households on the lowest incomes continues to worsen. The impact of the housing crisis on lower income households is more acute because of a lessened capacity to compete for housing. For the lowest 10% of households by income, rental stress jumped from 49.2% in 2007-8 to 60.8% in 2009-10.

Older Women and Homelessness Seminar – 31 October 2013

14829  

14860  

2010  

2011  

However, the 2012 waiting list shows a return to the pre-NRAS era figures. Importantly, there has been a sharp increase in the proportion of people classified as being in the “greatest need”; in 2009 those in the greatest need made up 45% of the waiting lists, today it is 65%. Productivity Commission 2013, Report into Government Services.

18045  

0   2009  

2012  

Dwelling  Gap     250000  

228,000   200,000  

200000  

Number  

2006  

The community housing list has remained steady with slight dips, which may be attributable to the introduction of NRAS in 2009.

The chronic undersupply of housing is a key determinant of housing unaffordability. The 2012 National Housing State of Supply report tracks the continuing exponential annual growth in the dwelling gap.

169,000  

150000  

Without action to increase affordable housing supply the gap is projected to reach 369 000 by 2016 throwing a considerable challenge to Government.

100000  

National Housing Supply Council 2012, Housing Supply and Affordability – Key Indicators, viewed 2 October 2013.

50000  

0  

2009  

2010  

2011  

http://nhsc.org.au/files/2013/02/ housing_supply_affordability_report.pdf

The future demand (based on 2011 Census data) • •

Over 45 years old, Single, Earn less than the medium income, Do not own their home Men – 373,794, Women – 600,82

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WHAT WE HEARD – SESSION 1: CAUSES AND ISSUES SPEAKERS

The first session concerned a look at broad statistics, data and references related to Causes and Issues from three key areas: •

Women – via Equality Rights Alliance, Australia’s largest network advocating for women’s equality, women’s leadership and recognition of women’s diversity.



Health – via the Women’s Centre for Health Matters, a communitybased not for profit organisation which works in the ACT and surrounding region to improve women's health and wellbeing.



Law – via the Women’s Legal Centre, a community legal centre for women in Canberra and the surrounding area, run by women and aiming to improve women’s access to justice.

Overall, the strongest note from this session was how women were missing from statistics. 2006 census data informed many of the policies. But the data itself didn’t address the emerging risk areas for homelessness. In looking at past case studies – both health and law, the speakers defined the following common situations which escalate to homelessness for older women: • Relationship breakdown - domestic abuse, a women’s lack of knowledge and understanding of the family financial situation, often compounded by belittling and/or controlling partners. • Unsuitable housing situation - Partners refusing to move out. having nowhere to go, or lack of knowing of where to go, the challenge of proving that a women is separated but living under one roof with their ex, couch surfing – where the women has temporary accommodation, but can, in some cases lead to survival sex where the women may exchange sex for a (insecure) roof over her head, stuck in a waiting list, or in a refuge (if one can get in) • Health Situation – often escalated by the insecure housing situation, particularly impacting existing mental health issues. • Employment Situation – loss of employment, low income or part-time work. • Poverty – lacking the resources to own your own home or afford rental accommodation. • Women new to the country with little support, or English as a second language.

Older Women and Homelessness Seminar – 31 October 2013

“[we know] the tsunami is coming, and no-one is planning for it”

Helen Dalley-Fisher Program Manager Equality Rights Alliance

Helen Dalley-Fisher Marcia Williams Executive Director Women’s Centre for Health Matters

“[poor] health and housing connections are clear” Marcia Williams

Carol Benda Coordinator Women’s Legal Centre

“[Women should] get information and advice – it’s critical. It doesn’t mean you’ll go to court with it.” Carol Benda

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WHAT WE HEARD – SESSION 2: STATUS QUO The second session involved exploring the current service offering for homelessness. Status Quo services range: •





Government Services – including the ACT’s centralised intake service FirstPoint, and the provider of public housing in Canberra, Housing ACT. Service Provider-Led – with examples provided of tenancy, home care and housing assistance provided by Woden Community Service as part of an integrated service offer. Advocacy – from both a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) perspective from the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum Inc. and the peak body for social service advocacy in the ACT ACTCOSS.

Overall, the main theme from the session was both the opportunities integrated services can offer, but also the risk to the community that a disenfranchised and growing potential user group poses for those services. The speakers in the session presented a mixture of case studies, data from frontline services and descriptions of the service offering being made to homeless older women: • The values that underpin service delivery for the homeless and those at risk of being homeless are based on safety, social justice and the right to have somewhere safe to live. • Though there is a range of services available from a range of providers, the sector is good at working in a coordinated way. • The waiting list for public housing continues to grow. • There is still no overall view of the true cost of homelessness to our society. • Older women should have a right to feel safe in their movements and housing, and we need to bring up our young people to feel that too. • The definition of assets and income (including superannuation) can make access to services difficult for some older women. • Even before emergency services are required, CALD women are subjected to discrimination in the private rental market. • The question of culturally appropriate housing must be taken into account when planning solutions. • Domestic violence was our lens into homelessness, but this preconception needs to broaden to issues such as housing affordability, changing housing requirements and a lack of women-focused service models reflecting inequities in employment and earning capacity.

Older Women and Homelessness Seminar – 31 October 2013

SPEAKERS

“Having somewhere safe to live is a right that everyone should have.”

Sue Sheridan Manager FirstPoint

Sue Sheridan

“You will hear from a range of organisations today, we work together in an active service relationship.”

Chris Redmond Director Woden Community Service

Chris Redmond

“[CALD women] are not special needs, they just need special help.”

Chin Wong Secretary Canberra Multicultural Community Forum Inc

Chin Wong

“The reasons people seek help for homelessness are quite different between women and men.” Alice Tibitts

“Our collective lack of capacity to re-orient our funding and services to match current and emerging needs explains the paradox we are in.”

No photo available

Alice Tibbits Senior Manager for Social Housing and Homelessness Services   Housing & Community Services ACT Susan Helyar Director ACT Council of Social Service

Susan Helyar

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WHAT WE HEARD – SESSION 3: POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS The final session of presentations involved describing potential solutions, by exploring a range of models currently in operation across affordable housing, community and emergency support. The session heard about a range of service delivery options including: • • • •

Tenancy support services and housing administration looking at the Argyle Community Housing model. Co-gender shared housing solutions as exampled by Abbeyfield House. Advocacy and research into the problem and potential solutions from ACT Shelter. The affordable housing model experience from YWCA Canberra.

During the session the speakers outlined successful models that involve a large number of tenancies that come from strong service delivery agencies both in Australia and from overseas. The solution view was balanced with the difficulties faced in delivering on agreed governmental goals around affordable housing for organisations seeking to become housing providers. In particular the speakers shared: • Community housing is being pursued as a critical model in the Canberra market – the ACT is relatively poor in terms of availability of this solution. • The move into housing provider for traditional community organisations can be difficult as the range of factors involved in determining what “affordable housing” is are complex. • Accessing the private rental market is difficult in Canberra not only because of cost, but transport, home modifications and the willingness to see elderly women as legitimate tenants. • Co-gender accommodation can work well as a solution for elderly women, solutions do not need to be exclusively female. • “Marketing” elderly single people as tenants of choice is working with some real estate agents. More research on the requirements of the at-risk population is required (and will be delivered by Shelter ACT in July 2014).

SPEAKERS

“With over 2,300 tenancies, our “on-the-ground” data tells us that income, references and confidence are all barriers to renting”

Terri Stiller Senior Manager ACT Argyle Community Housing Ltd

Terri Stiller

“Having a housekeeper that supports tenants whilst promoting independence is a key element of a successful co-tenanting experience” Heather Douglas

“There is a need for Shelter ACT to lobby all Ministers because housing is impacted by all areas. Housing is not a stand alone issue.” Leigh Watson

“Our experience of offering affordable housing has been that it is extremely difficult to target the most needy, particularly the ageing.”

Heather Douglas ACT Abbeyfield Society Inc.

Leigh Watson Executive Officer ACT Shelter

Frances Crimmins Executive Director YWCA of Canberra

Frances Crimmins

Older Women and Homelessness Seminar – 31 October 2013

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WHAT WE HEARD – SESSION 3: PANEL DISCUSSION The final session of the seminar was a question and answer panel which brought community leaders and practitioners together to build on the themes raised in the Possible Solutions session. The panel members included: •

Service Delivery Representatives – from St Vincent de Paul Society, Common Ground and Toora Accommodation and Support Service.



Elected community leaders – with representation from the Federal Parliament and Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).

The representations made by panel members and answers to the questions from the floor supported the themes of the day. In particular the panel spoke of: • The continuing lens of domestic violence as a trigger for homelessness, and the need for increased support for the victim. • The hidden and increasing problem being seen in the region of families pushing older females out of their circle (and their assets). • That the simple solution of building more houses, though complicated, would help. • That systemic inequity (lack of assets, financial insecurity, inequitable pay and super) will be the emerging triggers for homelessness in the future and must be addressed. • That there are new and evolving solutions and models appearing all of the time and though many of these take time to launch, they should be explored. • The phases of potentially homeless older women (emergency homeless, at risk due to being aged now, and the young with low financial literacy or independence) must be acknowledged in order to understand the sheer size of the potential problem. • That there are models that should be explored outside of the focus on emergency care – such as utilising superannuation savings to invest in affordable housing.

“There is a role for government in this process, it is not just a sectoral issue.” Ged Kearney

“There hasn’t been an instance where I’ve spoken about this issue and someone from the crowd hasn’t come forward to tell me they are affected.”

SPEAKERS Ged Kearney President ACTU

Gai Brodtmann MP Member for Canberra

Gai Brodtmann

“While it’s great that we are talking about this amongst ourselves, we really need to be having this conversation with audiences who don’t know anything about it.” Diane Kargas

“It is time for governments at all levels to recognise their responsibilities and ensure we have enough affordable housing for everyone who needs it.”

Diane Kargas Director Common Ground Liz Dawson was not able to attend the panel and offered her apologies.

Frank Brassil President St Vincent de Paul Society

Frank Brassil

“Removing the person who is being violent would be a great start in minimising homelessness.”

Mirsada Draskovic Manager Toora Accommodation and Support Service

Mirsada Draskovic

Older Women and Homelessness Seminar – 31 October 2013

Page 8 of 24

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES The evidence and views presented by the speakers highlighted a range of aspects of the older women homelessness service system that require not only further investigation, but substantial investment in solutions and capability.

The Things We Learnt Were • •

• •

What That Means Is

The current focus on coping with emergency housing clients is critical but might mask the potential total client group. Homelessness is related to other social issues, both as symptom and cause of broader social problems such as health, social disconnection and financial security. Even though our understanding of the risk continually deepens, there is a lack of agility in funding models to reassign address those risks quickly and efficiently. The state and attitude of the private rental market and associated housing affordability issues are pre-conditions for an ever-growing group to be at risk of moving into homelessness.







The data we rely on (particularly Census) must catch up to the needs of policy makers and also reflect the emerging homelessness definitions rather than traditional views of homelessness with regard to older women. There is not only a lack of housing, the models for investment in “affordable” housing and other solutions are difficult to implement and scale in the ACT. Information and services must be broad ranging – from crisis information to a preventative and educative focus for a range of ages and ‘potentially at-risk’ groups.

THREE AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY The conversations at the seminar presented a range of options for addressing the issue of homelessness for older women. From what we learned and heard the following three areas have emerged as key themes in addressing aspects of this complex issue. The opportunities listed here are a synthesis of the type of suggestions and conversations heard throughout the day, as opposed to a formal list of agreed projects. Understand the Older Women and Homelessness User Groups as They Stand Now

Explore More Agile Traditional Housing Solutions In Innovative Ways

Address Systemic People Capability Issues

Create an evidence-based view of the potential and actual users of homelessness services:

Look for innovative solutions whilst systemic issues, such as access to equitable work and violence against women, are addressed:

Improve capacity to deal with the scale of the emerging older women and homelessness issue, whilst work such as “building more houses” is undertaken:

• • • •

Women-centric homelessness typology development. CALD barrier identification exercise. Financial independence and awareness analysis. Homelessness definition review.

• • • •

Unlocking superannuation as funder of affordable housing pilot. Culturally appropriate housing model development. Train the agent to unlock private rental. Removal of the violent partner instead of the victim pilot.



• • •

Older Women and Homelessness Seminar – 31 October 2013

Homelessness prevention outreach training (including financial, legal and human right coaching). Couch Surfer identification and support training for health and community workers. Pre-First Point referral for financial advice for at-risk women. Multi-Sector seminars about homelessness undertaken with related professional audiences.

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ABOUT DESIGN MANAGERS AUSTRALIA (DMA) ABOUT THE DAY DMA was excited to be asked by the National Council of Women ACT to support this important initiative. As service designers we are constantly seeking the combination of subject matter expertise and practitioner-led experience – the NCWACT put together a program that met both of these needs.

THE FACILITATORS – DESIGN MANAGERS AUSTRALIA

The issue of older women and homelessness has the propensity to affect the ACT community and we were pleased to support the Council in their endeavours to raise the profile of the issue.

Justin Barrie Justin is the Founder and Principal of service design agency DMA. He is obsessed with supporting organisations of all shapes and sizes commit to a defined strategy and back that up with services that are designed to make a difference for people. Since 2003 Justin and DMA have designed services with clients in the fields of taxation, policing, water management, human services, health, sports and local government.

ABOUT DMA

Justin is a YOGIE nominee for Outstanding Contribution to Young People for his work as a volunteer with Barnardos, and is also a Board member of PCYC Canberra.

DMA is a Canberra-based specialist service design agency working with private, public, community and volunteer organisations. What matters to us most is:



Making a difference to people’s lives through services that may or may not even be noticed by them – for all the right reasons.

• •

Creating change that is needed and that makes things better. Bringing together a range of voices and disciplines who can make things happen – not just talk about it, but do it.

DMA consultants work with people (staff, customers, community, change agents) deliver the following outcomes:

• •

Designs of how the strategy/service/solution could/should work.



Evaluation of how the strategy/service/solution is working.

Visualisations of the strategy/service/solution in action to work through issues or opportunities.

Older Women and Homelessness Seminar – 31 October 2013

Mel Edwards Mel Edwards is Co-Principal at service design agency DMA. Her passion is turning what really matters (to people and business) into what really works (for people and business). As practitioner she worked on projects as diverse as modelling customer typologies, developing online services for student loan borrowers, forming strategies to support Small-to-Medium Enterprise (SME) compliance and enhance service delivery to Maori taxpayers and social policy customers. Mel has worked with a variety of public and private sector organisations applying her design expertise – she has designed services in the insurance, industry and governing bodies, taxation, human services, transport and maternity and child health sectors.

Page 10 of 24

APPENDIX 1 – SEMINAR AGENDA

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Seminar facilitated by Design Managers Australia

NCWA ACT Gratefully Acknowledges the Assistance of Canberra SCC, Canberra Mothercraft Society and Design Managers Australia in staging the seminar

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