On any given night in Australia, 1 in 200 people are homeless.*
Currently, more than 40% of residents in Logan are at high risk of homelessness, compared with 23% of Queensland residents and just 5.5% in Brisbane, according to an index created by the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM). **
In 2015-16, Logan based not-for-profit organisation YFS, through its YFS Connect service, responded to 5,804 queries about homelessness, housing or tenancy matters. That is a 13% increase compared with 2014-15.
Homelessness, or imminent risk of it, is the most common presenting issue for the people YFS works with across all its programs.
YFS’ Housing First Service works with an average of 50 clients at any given time, helping them find a place to live or keep their current home, develop their ability to maintain a tenancy and link with supports they might need to stabilise their housing.
Case managers in other YFS programs also help house people.
YFS CEO Cath Bartolo estimates that YFS case managers helped 600 people find stable housing last financial year.
“As well as that, our information, referral and assessment team, YFS Connect, uses emergency relief funds to help people save their tenancies or establish new ones, of emergency accommodation,” Ms Bartolo said.
In line with World Homeless Day, YFS CEO Cath Bartolo highlighted the organisation’s commitment to give vulnerable people the best chance of achieving independence and participation, building on a foundation of stable, affordable housing.
“Secure housing is a basic right. A stable home provides a foundation so people can focus on working, parenting, connecting with others and building successful lives,” Ms Bartolo said.
YFS had submitted a response to the Working Together for better housing and sustainable communities’ discussion paper, emphasizing some key points that the organisation would like to see considered.
These included interventions to make housing affordable for all, prevent homelessness, house homeless people fast, and support people to maintain stable housing.
“We look forward to seeing the Queensland Government’s Housing Strategy,” Ms Bartolo said.
Sources:
*http://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/index.php/about-homelessness/homeless-statistics