Allocations Manual Homeless with Support Category
The Department’s expectations of Designated Support Program Providers or Specialist Services
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- Making a decision to complete and lodge an application
- Application completion stage
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The Department’s expectations of Designated Support Program Providers or Specialist ServicesAbout the support requirementGenerally, if an individual or family is receiving support from a designated support program provider or specialist service, it is accepted that they are receiving the required level of support to access the Homeless with support category. However, if the support organisation determines a short term or crisis response is appropriate and it is unlikely the individual or family will require support at the establishment phase of a Department tenancy, an application should not be lodged under this category. Usually individuals and families will be eligible for the Homeless with support category where they require support to obtain, establish and sustain appropriate, secure, long term housing and community connections. Their support needs may relate to mental illness, drug and alcohol, health, and behavioural problems that could also require the involvement of a range of different specialist services. These types of complex issues may be further exacerbated by situations involving family violence. Typically the support organisation will work with the individual or family over a sustained period to provide the required support either through direct service delivery or within a care coordination, care planning or individual planning framework involving assessment of needs, development of a case plan, implementation of the plan, and monitoring/maintenance and review. This allows for the individual or family to be referred to other generic or specialist services as required so that there is a holistic response to their needs. This may initially be in the form of continuous support, graduating to episodic support according to the progress of the individual or family. The support is to focus on developing a plan that aims to assist the individual or family to sustain their own accommodation in the community, by maximising their levels of functioning; ultimately increasing their independence to a point where services may no longer be required. To achieve this, it is expected the support organisation will make an assessment and arrange support around relevant risk factors. The support organisation should consider the individual or family’s previous housing history, which may include previous tenancies with the Department. The plan should detail strategies to support a change in behaviour if any tenancies ended due to anti-social behaviour or rental arrears. If relevant, the support worker should arrange for the individual or family to sign the Release of Information to an External Agency form, so they can contact a local office to discuss their history with the Department. As it is not the role of IAP or equivalent workers at intake points to provide this level or type of support, they are not able to complete and lodge an application under this category. However, IAP workers working within Corrections facilities as part of the Corrections Housing Pathways Initiative are able to lodge applications for individuals and families exiting custody arrangements. In addition, it is not anticipated that support services in crisis accommodation settings will lodge applications for the Homeless with support category. This is because they generally provide a crisis response where only short term support is available. However, the individual or family can be referred to a designated support program provider or specialist service if it is determined further support is required after they exit the crisis setting. When this support has commenced, the individual or family may be assessed and considered for the Homeless with support category. Support services such as mentoring programs, chaplaincy support, home help, and meals on wheels or assistance with shopping are not considered to be sufficient indicators of need under the Homeless with support category. Where it cannot be confirmed that the support is provided by a designated support program provider or specialist service, the type of support provided may be sufficient indicator of eligibility to lodge an application under the Homeless with support category. A support organisation or program that does not have an EPRIN, and would like to receive information about how their program can become a designated support organisation, should email the Department at: publichousingEPRINforms@dhs.vic.gov.au Making a decision to complete and lodge an applicationIt is expected the designated support program provider or specialist service will work with an individual or family for a period of time before deciding to lodge an application under the Homeless with support category. This is to ensure the support organisation has a clear understanding of the level of support required, and can make a thorough assessment of the individual or family’s most suitable long term housing options. A support organisation should not lodge an application under this category if it is determined an individual or family is not able to maintain a public housing tenancy due to their high needs. In these circumstances, a more suitable housing option should be considered, such as rehabilitation, transitional or other supported housing option. This process also requires the individual or family to consider whether they agree to engage with support for as long as assistance is required. It is expected that support providers will discuss the requirements under this category with the household being assisted.
Where an individual is leaving prison, a youth justice program or a care/treatment facility, the relevant worker will make an assessment as to whether they are likely to exit into homelessness, and of their support needs. As part of the release or exit strategy, the support worker should plan to link the individual with the required support. However in circumstances where a support connection cannot be made, the individual will remain eligible for this category. Refer to the relevant section of this chapter for information about the programs nominated for the Corrections Housing Pathways Initiative. If Department housing is critical to achieving the individual or family’s long term accommodation needs, the support organisation should also consider what level of support is required. If the support organisation decides a short term or crisis response is appropriate and it is unlikely the individual or family will require support at the establishment phase of a public tenancy, an application should not be lodged under this category.
An individual or family with outstanding charges will be required to sign and maintain a repayment agreement. The support organisation should assist in this regard. The support organisation is also expected to assist the individual or family in deciding upon waiting list areas that will help them remain engaged with existing support services whilst maximising their housing opportunity. Individuals and families are discouraged from choosing areas that they have little knowledge of, no support or social connection to, or may result in their dislocation from existing support networks or structures.
It is anticipated that before an applicant makes a decision to change their application details they will discuss their situation with the support organisation. This will allow a support worker to guide the individual or family through a decision making process, so changes that may impact on their eligibility for the Homeless with support category can be considered. For example, discussion about the selection of a waiting list area by the applicant that creates ‘low opportunity’ when combined with an existing Special Housing Requirement (SHR) should occur to inform the household’s decision-making. An applicant and their support worker are also encouraged to contact the local office to determine the likely impact of any change. In the event of case closure due to existing funding arrangements, the support organisation is to provide the Department with clear advice on how their service will assist when an offer of accommodation is made. This may include details of another support service that will take over the support of the individual or family, or provide advice that they will initiate a referral to another support organisation or the Social Housing Advocacy and Support Program (SHASP) at allocation stage. At allocation stageIt is expected that the designated support program or specialist service that lodges the application form will commit to be available to provide the Department with clear advice on how their service will assist when an offer of accommodation is made (either through direct delivery or referral). For this purpose, the designated support program or specialist service that lodges the application form will provide a point of contact for allocation stage to assist in the transition to the new tenancy. The designated support program or specialist service that lodges the application form will be contacted when an offer is housing is about to be made to their client. When this contact is made the support organisation should undertake to do the following:
If an offer of accommodation is made outside the catchment area of the support organisation, it is expected the program will coordinate the appropriate case transfer to the equivalent support organisation in the new catchment area. If this is not possible, the support organisation is to assist the Department to organise a case transfer to the local SHASP provider. This may also occur where there is a case closure due to existing funding agreements, and the support provider is only able to provide information sharing and release of client files to assist with an informed support connection in the area where housing has been allocated. In this way, a platform for communication and coordination between the Department’s officers and support organisations can be established from the outset of the tenancy. Local protocols between designated support program providers or specialist services and SHASP providers should enable case transfers to support individuals or families to establish and stabilise their Department tenancy where this is required. It is expected the case transfer to another support organisation or SHASP will involve a thorough hand over process.
Where the nominated support program is unable to support the individual or family beyond the sign up interview due to funding agreements they are expected to transition support to another service or the SHASP Establishing Successful Tenancies (EST) program. The program is to continue to offer support and a point of contact for the Department until the new support arrangements are in place (it would be expected this was already considered during the case planning process). The level of support after sign up will depend on the needs of the individual or family, but at minimum the focus of support should be on practical activities that assist the household to establish their tenancy and community connections. For example activities like, assisting the individual or family with orientation to the local community, ensuring utility services are connected, coordinating any specific furniture requirements, accessing local transport and essential services. The support for the individual or family may also focus on establishing access to services like medical facilities and schools, and where required coordinating specialist services, such as financial counselling, to build budgeting and living skills, or drug or alcohol services to assist with addiction issues.
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