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Housing Crisis

Streets

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I am not prepared and have nowhere to go. I walk down a dark street and pick a row of houses with low fences.

 

I spend the night huddled in some bushes, freezing cold, terrified when anyone walks past.

Bags

One in three males and one in 10 females (17.3% overall) were homeless at the time of survey

After a couple of nights I decide to head to the homeless men’s hostel. Place looks horrible. Dirty, big clanging security door. It feels institutional.

 

Inside, a staff member asks me lots of questions with all my answers going onto her forms. After 20 minutes she tells me “Well you look alright but no, we have no more beds available”. Why not just be honest and upfront to begin with? You shouldn’t make people jump through hoops!

 

I leave and start walking.

hostel staff

Services aren’t always working to meet families needs. Some of the key barriers to access are: navigation issues, inflexible criteria, system not connected, cost, sometimes not local etc.

Over one third (38%) of family members accessed housing pathway or housing support services (multiple times)

Bags

One in three males and one in 10 females (17.3% overall) were homeless at the time of survey

hostel staff

Services aren’t always working to meet families needs. Some of the key barriers to access are: navigation issues, inflexible criteria, system not connected, cost, sometimes not local etc.

Over one third (38%) of family members accessed housing pathway or housing support services (multiple times)

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Homelessness Crisis Supports

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  • sam-Crisis-accommodation

  • Crisis accommodation

The next morning, whilst walking around the city, Sam is approached by Dan, an outreach worker from a homelessness support service.

 

Dan tells him about some crisis supports he could access. He also tells Sam about some accommodation options he can look into.

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  • Sam-Day-centre

  • Day Centre

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Homelessness Crisis Supports

Crisis accommodation

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The last few days have really gotten to me but I know if my situation is going to improve, I need to get a safe roof over my head.

 

I go to a crisis accommodation place Dan told me about. After telling them my story, I get lucky and they tell me a bed will soon become available. They also link me to Alice, a caseworker who they say can talk to me about long-term housing options.

 

When Alice and I meet up I can see from her face that she doesn’t have good news. She says that although they have links to different housing options, there is limited availability at the moment. She says I can stay in the crisis accommodation for the next couple of days but that’s all they can offer me for now.

 

My worse fears are confirmed, I will be going back on the streets.

crisis accomodation staff

Over one third (38%) of family members accessed housing pathway or housing support services (multiple times).

 

On average, families accessed almost three services, with 29% accessing almost three emergency accommodation services

Understand the stats

19%

of 100 Families WA family members indicated that they cannot afford a decent and secure home - This is compared to 0.3% of Australians

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Accessing support

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  • sam-Job-network-provider

  • Centrelink

Not sleeping on the street for two nights has given Sam some needed headspace to make a plan. On Monday when services open back up, he is going to seek some support. He doesn’t want to spend any more time on the street.

 

He decides he needs two things to help get him back on his feet; register for job seeker payments and explore work opportunities.

 

He waits outside the library until it opens so he can use their free WiFi. After writing down all of the numbers and addresses he needs, he sets off…

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  • Sam-Centrelink

  • Job network provider

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Accessing support

Centrelink

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By the time I arrive at Centrelink at 9am it is already busy. It’s so embarrassing to be carrying around my bags but where can I put them?

 

Standing near the entrance I am approached by a staff member who asks how she can help. I ask to speak with a social worker but am told none are available so instead, I take my number, sit down, and wait to be called up.

 

After waiting for an hour, I finally sit down with a staff member but after 10 minutes she tells me bluntly that she can’t offer me any financial help. Instead, she gives me a list of places I can go to get free food. As she walks away from me she checks her hair in the reflection of the window. She doesn’t care about me or my situation and has no idea what I am going through.

 

I leave feeling angry but mostly, just sad. What am I going to do now?

Bags

The system and services not designed from perspective of lived experience

Centrelink staff

Most families (82%) on Newstart (now Jobseeker) have at least one one chronic health condition and at least one mental health condition (76%)

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Debt

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  • Sam-Robodebt

  • Robodebt

Sam has been living on the streets for several weeks now. His phone was stolen over a week ago so no one can get hold of him, including the job network provider.

 

He is bored and the futility of his situation is starting to get to him.

 

Sam manages to use a computer at his local homeless drop-in centre only to get some more bad news through his email. He is in debt.

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  • Sam-Unpaid-fines

  • Unpaid fines

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Debt

Robodebt

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Where does honesty and being upfront get you? After I went to Centrelink last month to try and get some support, they now are telling me I owe them money. Apparently, their fancy computer system worked it out.

 

I’ve done that many casual jobs, they think based on my average income that I’ve been collecting income support at the same time as earning personal income. It’s a mistake! Despite my situation, I have always been honest. Being homeless doesn’t make me a bad person and giving me a debt now is like kicking me while I am down – it’s only going to push me lower.

 

I really need something to take my mind off of all this stress. I have met a few people on the streets with who I’ve become pals. I’ll see if they are around, maybe have a drink.

Computer robodebt

Families reported they experienced an inability to sleep (65%) and stress-related illness (60%) as a result of debt.

Understand the stats

86%

report they had debt that was not a mortgage

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Resilience

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  • Sam-Support-network

  • Support network

Homeless, jobless, carrying debt and without any formal support, Sam feels like his chances of getting off the streets get smaller each week.

 

He has made a small group of friends and although he knows he can’t fully trust them, they understand and look out for him.
That means a lot.

 

Sam still wants help but sometimes it feels like the system has been built to keep him down.

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  • Sam-Self-determination

  • Self-determination

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Resilience

Support network

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For the first couple of weeks, I didn’t speak to anyone else on the streets. It wasn’t until I met James that I started talking. James has a similar story to me.

 

He took me under his wing, introduced me to a few of his mates. He also looks out for me if things get a bit crazy. The streets can be a very violent place.

 

There are some drugs and drinking in the group, which can cause problems, but at least we can talk about our problems and make each other feel like we matter, like we exist. They know how the streets work and can be a good source of advice.

 

That sometimes is the only thing that gets me through.

Friend

Unstructured social engagement is valued more highly than structured interventions. Agencies could consider how to encourage and support these existing networks and preferences

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End of story

Thank you for exploring
Sam’s journey

Scroll down if you want to make an impact

Calls to Action

Families repeatedly asked us before, during and after their engagement; ‘how will my information be used to make a difference? It is through this lens and in the context of your own influence and responsibility that these calls to action should be viewed.

Support people to identify and achieve their life goals – their way

Families are intimately familiar with their own circumstances and needs and hold valuable perspectives about what approaches would work for themselves and their communities.

Elevate the role and amplify the voice of people experiencing disadvantage

Families consistently reported that they often don’t feel seen or heard in policy or practice settings and would like to add their voices and lived experience in designing, implementing and evaluating policies, programs and social change that impacts them.

Ensure every Australian has access to adequate income to meet their basic needs

The 100 Families WA evidence demonstrates the positive benefits that the Coronavirus Supplement had on family members, which ultimately supported them to live with a greater dignity.

Build and strengthen local community networks and supports

Families draw on their relationships with family, friends, neighbours and community networks when available, for both practical assistance and emotional support to meet a variety of needs.

Challenge stigma and create a safe, supportive environment for people

Family members continue to experience stigma and discrimination at individual, community, service and societal levels. Safe, supportive environments can help reduce people’s experiences of stigma and discrimination.

Make it easy as possible for people to access support when they need it

Family members reported a range of personal, organisational and systemic barriers to accessing formal and informal supports. Reducing these barriers can reduce the financial, emotional and time costs for families who are currently navigating multiple formal supports.

Prioritise and develop trusted and enduring relationships

Families’ positive experiences of seeking support depends on being genuinely listened to and supported with care and understanding of their individual circumstances.

Invest in prevention and early supports

Policies, services and community-based programs focused on prevention and early support, in addition to crisis services, can help support people to solve issues before problems escalate.

Recognise the value of caring roles and other contributions to society

Recognising, valuing and supporting the multiple ways that family members contribute to their families and society can create social and economic benefits and reduce inequality

Reflection

Informed by what you have learned, please answer the below question. Your comments are made anonymously and will not be attributed back to you.

Learning

Interested in continueing your 100 Families journey? Stay connected to 100 Families WA by adding your details below (only quarterly contact will be made via newsletters and project opportunities).

Click on the links below to download key resources to help you on your learning journey.

Download the Full report
Download the Summary Report
Download the Lived Experience Framework
To access further 100 Families WA resources, click here
To access other helpful resources, like the WACOSS Advocacy Toolkit, Outcomes Framework and more, click here
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contact us on 100familieswa@wacoss.org.au

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Jo, Single mum

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Carol, Grandparent Carer

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Brianna, Aboriginal Family

Background

Sam is a 40-year-old man that had a tough upbringing. He passed through foster care and went to university but never had stability and frequently finds himself with no place to go.
Vision/goals

Today, all I want is to feel safe, to have a stable roof over my head, have a purpose in my life once more, and feel connected to my community. I don’t want to feel invisible or like an outsider anymore.

Background

Sam is a 40-year-old man that had a tough upbringing. He passed through foster care and went to university but never had stability and frequently finds himself with no place to go.

Vision/goals

Today, all I want is to feel safe, to have a stable roof over my head, have a purpose in my life once more, and feel connected to my community. I don’t want to feel invisible or like an outsider anymore.