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Mr Falinski, the vast majority of people experiencing homelessness who use our inner city public hospitals do not have the capacity for immediate employment. Most are sleeping rough, or have a range of other issues, such as mental illness or AOD dependence, that preclude a job.
After we support them with their immediate medical needs, the thing that is most crucial in their ongoing recuperation is helping them to enter long-term, social housing – this is absolutely the first step in them achieving independence.
From there, if we can offer them ongoing support around their health and other issues, THEN, once they’ve managed to achieve some stability and their issues are under control, they might be in a position to be able to consider a pathway to a job. That takes time.
Mr Falinski, this is what’s known as the ‘housing first’ approach and it’s backed up by study after study after study – both here and overseas – for getting people out of chronic homelessness and into long-term sustainable accommodation. The evidence is clear.
Australia’s problem – and it’s been this way for decades – is that the necessary social housing is almost never there. It’s just not available in the volume required to meet need. That's a fact. Estimates are that there's a shortage of 300k social dwellings and 200k affordable.
Housing and homeless organisations struggle to help someone begin their path to independence because that crucial first step – accessing supported housing – just isn’t available, it’s simply not there. It’s a barrier that must be overcome.
We would be very happy to invite you to visit @SVHSydney or @StVincentsMelb - when circumstances allow - to see our homeless health services, meet our clients and patients, talk to our specialist staff, and discuss these challenges first hand.
