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• NSW charter

  Peak not for profit organisations that work in the social and community services sector in NSW have adopted a Charter which outlines the sectors' key values roles and responsibilities.

  
  

  Click here to view: NSW CHARTER

  More info...

• MOU with NSW Federation of Housing Associations

   Homelessness NSW has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NSW Federation of Housing Associations that focuses on collaborative work to maximise the provision of housing and services to prevent and assist with homelessness. A full copy of the MoU can be reached through MOU

• Women leaving prison

  The Women in Prison Advocacy Network (WIPAN) has released a report on its highly successful mentoring program for women leaving prison and an accompanying DVD. With 82% of participants in the mentoring program

  not reoffending and re-entering prison, at an average cost of just over $4,000 pa, the NSW Government is being asked to find secure and adequate funding for this important initiative to continue and flourish. Full details at www.wipan.net.au 

• HASI Evaluation Very Positive

  The final report of the evaluation of the NSW Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) has outlined some very positive results. The evaluation, conducted by the Social Policy Research Centre at UNSW indicates positive consumer outcomes with most consumers believing that HASI contributed to improving their quality of life compared to before joining the program. Details are available from www.sprc.unsw.edu.au

• Home Energy Saver Scheme (HESS)

  This Commonwealth funded scheme is provided through community organisations. It offers help with information about easy and affordable ways to use less energy in the home, one on one budgeting assistance, assistance to get the right rebates and help to access no or low interest loans to purchase energy efficient appliances. More details through 1800 007001 or www.fahcsia.gov.au

• Revised Homeless Protocol Released

  A revised Protocol for Homeless People in Public Places has been signed by 12 NSW Government agencies that are responsible for public places, come into contact with homeless people and/or provide services to them. The Protocol aims to assist homeless people if they need or request them and to enhance the safety of, and appropriate behaviour towards rough sleepers

   

  More info at www.housing.nsw.gov.au

• Social Procurement Guide for Public Sector Agencies in

  This major publication aims to assist Government entities (Commonwealth, State and local) in NSW to harness their procurement budgets to deliver additional social value into local communities across NSW. Produced by a diverse range of practitioners from the 3 levels of government, it encourages the use of social enterprises in the provision of services to fulfil contract requirements for both goods and services

   

  More info at www.socialenterprises.com.au

• HPLS and StreetCare Project

  StreetCare members including Veronica, Kevin, AJ, Ken, Mary and Tony talk about how they became homeless, the challenges associated with being homeless, the services that assisted them, and the importance of having government, policy makers and service providers take account of homeless peoples’ opinions. 

  The videos can viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr6gRc4ty9P2RyQEOxCcM02FjqpSBe7yy&feature=plcp

• Newtown Neighbourhood Centre’s Services Dierectory

  This is the fourth edition of Newtown Neighbourhood Centre’s Homelessness Services Directory. The Directory was first published in 2008. Homelessness services change at a fast pace, with new services emerging and others evolving and adapting. Download here

• Homepage for the Homeless

  We’re extremely excited to give you a sneak preview of Homepage for the Homeless – a specialist website that links with some of the biggest online shopping sites including iTunes, Amazon and Wotif.  

   With up to 8.5% of all sales donated back to Ladder - with no added cost to you - it’s the easiest way for socially minded Australians to help tackle the problem of youth homelessness.

   

• ICAC report on Funding NGO delivery of human services

  The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has released a position paper, as part of its corruption prevention program, that recommends several changes to the way NGOs are funded by Government agencies in NSW. The paper also recommends extending the oversight of the NSW Auditor General and ICAC to cover the operations of NGOs which are funded by Government for the delivery of human services. The full report is available by following this link

• Meeting the Challenge- Transitions out of Long term Hom

  The second of four reports on the Melbourne based Journey to Social Inclusion project  (aiming to break the cycle of long term homelessness) has highlighted some positive results. Compared to a control group, the project participants showed a sustained improvement in their housing circumstances, their physical and emotional health and an increase in those looking for work.

• Report on Government Services Provision 2013

  Please click on the following for a summary of key indicators about housing and homelessness in NSW contained in the 2013 REPORT

• SHS National Quality Framework agreed

  Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers have agreed on a National Quality Framework (NQF) model to be implemented across the Specialist Homelessness Services sector. Details at http://www.homelessnessnsw.org.au/shs-national-quality-framework-nqf 

• Updated Housing factsheets for Australia and NSW

  National Shelter and Shelter NSW have updated detailed factsheets about housing trends and issues for both Australia and NSW.  In NSW in September 2012, just 10% of rental stock was affordable for very low income households, rising to 27% being affordable for low income households. Nationally, there were 224,867 applicants waiting for social housing in 2012. More information through Shelter NSW at www.shelternsw.org.au

• NSW Homelessness Action Plan (HAP) evaluation

  The initial findings based on the evaluation of HAP projects that have operated in NSW over the past 2-3 years have been released by FACS. Six key findings have been made about what influences effective results.

  Full details click here

• Further data on homeless people in severely overcrowded

  The ABS has released a report which sheds further light on some of the features of homeless people living in severely overcrowded housing. People born overseas and Aboriginal people are overrepresented in this homelessness cohort, with the majority of the group being located in Sydney and Melbourne, living in private rental, being multifamily households and having lower weekly equivalised household incomes. More information at www.abs.gov.au

• Impact-Australia:Investment for social and economic ben

  Impact-Australia: Investment for social and economic benefit (March 2013)

  Produced by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and JBWere, this report outlines several current examples of impact investing in Australia. The full report is available at www.deewr.gov.au

  
  

• Reaching Underserved markets:

  Reaching Underserved markets: the role of specialist financial intermediaries in Australia (March 2013)

  Produced by Social Traders and Foresters Community Finance, this report comes at an important time in the evolution of the social finance market in Australia. It is prepared by two leading organisations that have been long engaged on the social enterprise and not for profit sectors for many years. Full details at www.socialtraders.com.au

• National Research Agenda

  National Research Agenda- Priorities for Advancing Our Understanding of Homelessness (2012)

  In late 2011, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness assembled and reviewed over 200 studies on homelessness conducted between 1989 and 2011 and more than 30 additional studies that were at the implementation stage. 8 key domains were then highlighted as priorities for new research. Full details at www.usich.gov

• The Solutions Database

  United States Interagency Council on Homelessness

  Investing in proven solutions is a key premise of Opening Doors. The USICH Solutions Database is a searchable source of up-to-date information drawn from around the country that federal, state, and local partners can use to further their collaborative efforts to end homelessness.  http://www.usich.gov/usich_resources/solutions/#nav 

• Phase 2 of the National SACS EIP webinars

  National Disability Services (NDS), Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) and Jobs Australia are pleased to announce the roll-out of Phase 2 of the National SACS Education and Information Program (SACS EIP) webinars targeting rural and regional organisations across Australia. More info click here

• Homelessness prevented by the NSW TAAP network

  A  study by 15 local/regional Tenants Advice and Advocacy services in NSW of clients seen in the July – December 2012 period whose tenancies were at risk of termination has revealed that in 82% of these cases, homelessness was averted. Information about the study is available in the March Issue (no 92) of Around the House, produced by Shelter NSW. Click here

• Street Impact-A social impact bond project in the UK

  St Mungo’s, working alongside partner agencies, has obtained a contract from the Greater London Authority to support people who are sleeping rough, or who have slept rough, to sustain their lives off the street. Social investors are putting up the funds to meet the scheme’s running costs and will be reimbursed on a payment by results basis by the GLA. Details at www.mungos.org/press_office/1479_street-impact-mew-support-for-people-who-ve-slept-rough

• New report on Commonwealth Rent Assistance

  A report produced by the Welfare Rights Centre NSW and the National Welfare Rights Network shows that in 2012, Commonwealth rent assistance was failing many low income Australians. More than 157,000 households are paying more than 50% of their income in rent, well above the accepted housing stress benchmark of 30% of income spent on housing costs. Details click here

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