01

IMAGINEDHOUSING

Outcomes andRecommendations2019 Report

PHASE 1 WORKSHOPS

CONTENTS

3

4

7

12

16

19

22

INTRODUCTION

WA STATISTICS ON HOMELESSNESS

WORKSHOP #1 - LIVED EXPERIENCE

WORKSHOP #2 - FRONTLINE

WORKSHOP #3 - DECISION MAKERS

WORKSHOP #4 - BUSINESS & COMMUNITY

RECOMMENDATIONS

We welcome your support in this journey! Please get in contact.

CONTACT

Karyn Lochore (08) 9430 4159

klochore@stpats.com.au

stpats.com.au/imaginedhousing

Imagined Housing builds on the work of the WA Alliance to End Homelessness, and in the

context of the State Government’s intention to deliver a State Homelessness Strategy in 2019,

and a State A�ordable Housing Strategy in 2020.

Imagined Housing exists to bring together government and not-for-profit agencies, businesses

and individuals in the south-west metro region who are interested in tackling housing and

homelessness issues a�ecting them and their neighbours.

The WA Council of Social Services (WACOSS) appointed St Pat’s to take the lead in bringing Imagined Housing into being.

WACOSS continues to provide important strategic advice and support to the delivery of the

project. Further logistical support and other in-kind resources were provided by the City of

Fremantle and the City of Cockburn. Iain Shields of Hygge Community Life was appointed as

project manager.

WACOSS will use the outcomes of these community conversations in submissions to government,

in addition to the agency’s work representing the community services sector on the

Homelessness and Housing Commissioning Group, a sub-group of the Supporting Communities

Forum Homelessness Working Group. It is hoped that this report will also prove valuable to other

groups and individuals involved in service provision and strategic reform in homelessness

response across Western Australia.

WHAT ISIMAGINEDHOUSING?In the second half of 2018, St Patrick’s Community

Support Centre (‘St Pat’s’) embarked on a series of

community conversations.

The purpose of the conversations was to begin a whole-of-community approach to improving housing and ending homelessness in south-west metropolitan Perth.

03

According to the 2016 Census1, on any given night there are around 9,005 people experiencing homelessness in Western Australia.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics defines a statistical region for

South-West Metropolitan Perth2.

9,005EXPERIENCINGHOMELESSNESS

1 - ABS Census of Population and Housing, 2016

2 - ABS: tinyurl.com/imaginehousing1

04

People were in

situations of severe

overcrowding.

People were living in

boarding houses or other

temporary lodgings.People were living in improvised

dwelling, tents, or sleeping out

(‘sleeping rough’).

People were in

supported

accommodation

for the homeless.

People were staying

temporarily with others

(‘couch surfing’).

~220 ~260

~280

~120

~83

8.5%

The Census figures show an estimated 976 people

experiencing homelessness in this region3.

Of those:

12.8%

22.9% 26.9%

28.9%

976people

It is notable that the South-West Metro

region has the highest proportion of people

living in boarding and lodging houses, more

than twice the overall Perth Metropolitan

figure (14.0%).

Historically, providers (including St Pat’s)

have o�ered a significant amount of this

type of housing, which for some people is

an acceptable, or even preferable option.

SOUTH WESTMETROPOLITEANPERTH

05

27.9%

14.6%

reported that their most recent spell of homelessness was

six months long or more.

reported that their most recent spell of homelessness was

between three to six months.

22.7%reported that their most recent spell of homelessness was

between three to six months.

34.3%reported that their most recent spell of homelessness was

less than four weeks.

The ABS’s General Social Survey provides some information regarding

homelessness durations4. Among all age groups:

HOMELESSNESSDURATIONS

Estimates of homelessnessEstablishing an estimate for the number of

people who experience homelessness in our

region each year is di�cult. Given the

prevalence of short periods of homelessness,

it’s likely that it is many more people than the

Census figure – perhaps six or seven times as

many.

The report, Homelessness in Western

Australia: a review of the research and

statistical evidence, prepared by researchers

at the Centre for Social Impact at the

University of WA for the Department of

Communities, provides valuable data and

analysis regarding homelessness in WA.

3 - Compared to an overall population of approximately 420,000 people.

4 - abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4159.0#Anchor5

THE WORKSHOPSA series of four workshops were held in the first week ofDecember, 2018. The workshops were facilitated by Iain Shields.

The purpose of this workshop was to listen to the stories of

people with lived experience of homelessness or housing

crisis, and to map their journeys. More than 20 people with

lived experience attended, many of whom were supported

by workers from service providers. Attendees were invited

to describe their experience with one of three journeys:

You’re at risk of homelessness. What do you do?

Where do you go? Was it happy? Sad?

You are homeless. Tell us what happens in a week and month.

What do you do? Where do you go? Was it happy/sad/frustrating?

Was it useful?

I’m moving into somewhere! Tell us your story! What do you do?

Where do you go? Was it good, or bad?

1.

2.

3.

07

#1 LIVED EXPERIENCE WORKSHOP FREMANTLE TOWN HALL

04.12.20189:30-11AM

5 - Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census ‘Country of Birth’, accessed 17 Jan 2019, http://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC51218.

STORYTELLING

Some people were able to tell their story as a

structured narrative. Many attendees told their

story through episodes or experiences.

Homelessness is often associated with trauma,

and indeed can be a deeply traumatic

experience in itself. As such, homelessness can

be a dislocating and disordering experience, and

this was reflected in the way people told their

stories.

DISLOCATION

‘I’m not from here, I’m from Victoria [or New

South Wales, or up north, or down south]’

Many (although not all) people with lived

experience identified as being ‘from’ somewhere

else. In some cases, this was so even if they had

lived in Perth for many years. According to the

2016 Census, only 34.7% of Perth residents were

born in Australia5, so being from ‘elsewhere’ isn’t

necessarily unusual in Perth.

However, many people have experienced Perth as a di�cult city to break into and make networks.

DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCES

‘Service Provider X? I don’t go there, they’re

hopeless, no good to me.’

‘Service Provider X? They’re great, I’ve been

going there for nine years, they’ve been really

important for me.’

Attendees had a wide range of experiences

with individual services providers. Attendees

talked about the importance of ‘fit’; the

culture or ‘vibe’ of particular service

providers worked for some people, and didn’t

for others. Having a range of service

providers in the region was advantageous, as

it made it more likely that people would find

the right ‘fit’ for them.

“I’m not from here, I’m from down south.”

LIVED EXPERIENCE WORKSHOP

RACISM AND OTHER FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION

‘Job service providers need to be more

culturally sensitive. We black fellas keep

Fridays free for funerals, but our job service

always makes appointments for us on

Fridays, and when we don’t go, we get

blacklisted or don’t get our payments.’

People talked about experiencing

discrimination while they were homeless, and

as well as at times when they had been

relatively securely housed. People had

experienced discrimination on the basis of

disability; because they had spent time in jail;

because they complained to service

providers, the police, or neighbours; and on

the basis of race.

#1

“Don’t do things for me unless

I am ready and willing to do some

things to help myself. You propping

me up enabled my drinking.”

LIVED EXPERIENCE WORKSHOP

Attendees expressed concerns that services – and for some people, the workshop itself – didn’t create appropriate opportunities for the knowledge and views of people with lived experience to be heard. In particular, they identified the importance of Aboriginal elders sharing their cultural learning with the younger generation.

PRACTICAL THINGSARE IMPORTANT

‘I tried Service Provider Y. It’s a wonderful place

to find community, I still go there most days.

But I couldn’t stay there, there were drugs

around and the rooms were very small and very

hot.’

‘I used to be a chef, I’d take the meat, slow

cook it overnight, the next day it’d be, just

*mwah*

Hot rooms, bad food, poor maintenance, lack of

cleanliness: these things were important to

people and when they occurred, they

presented a further barrier to accessing help.

The practical and logistical issues of

homelessness were significant, and sometimes

small things compounded. Sleeping in a car

might be manageable for a while, but being

unable to make a cup of tea when you wanted

one took a real toll over time. Some people

talked about lowering their personal standards

to cope, but that often came with a loss of

self-esteem.

EMOTIONAL THINGSARE IMPORTANT

‘I was abused in care. I can’t forgive the

Catholics. My brother got married, but I

wouldn’t go inside the church.’

‘I was abused in care. Finding a way to forgive

was really important to me, it’s how I found

some peace.’

‘My neighbor harasses me if I have any friends

over, so I’m isolated. I’ve been waiting for a

transfer for two and a half years.’

‘Share house – no locks on doors. Can’t control

who’s coming and going. My domestic violence

trauma being triggered. Lots of noise, shouting,

arguing, drugs, alcohol.’

There were many stories of experiences of

trauma – in childhood, in relationships and family,

in interactions with ‘systems’ and neighbours, and

in the experience of being homeless.

SYSTEMS (THAT TRAP)

‘I’m entrapped in poverty and violence for the

term of my life (Homeswest) to pay the wages of

6-8 bureaucrats. Private rent is una�ordable. The

life I dreamed of – physical and psychological

safety; a functioning, safe home.’

‘So much payback violence for reporting to

authorities, lived in terror, can’t have people visit.

Have to keep leaving my Homeswest villa for

violence, house-sit for warmth.’

‘Don’t do things for me unless I am ready and

willing to do some things to help myself. You

propping me up enabled my drinking.

Accountability, a hand up not a hand out. Help me

get my needs met.’

‘Going to Centrelink – you feel awful because you

know it’s going to be hard. Forms, forms, forms.

Print and scan – what? How? Prove who you are

– cost of getting ID, carrying it with you,

transiency. Literacy. Takes ages, waitlists – fed up

with lists!’

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ANALYSISThe people who attended our workshop

were generous with their stories and their

insights. They were – and are – brave,

resilient, creative and strong. Many of them

also carry heavy burdens of trauma,

ill-health, and the consequences of

decisions - their own and others.

PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDSfood, water, warmth, rest

SAFETY NEEDSsecurity, safety

BELONGNESS & LOVE NEEDSintimate relationships, friends

ESTEEM NEEDSprestiage and feeling accomplished

SELF-ACTUALISATION

achieving full potential

including creativity

#1 LIVED EXPERIENCE WORKSHOP

Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs6 is a simple

analysis of the needs that motivate human

beings. It assumes that people will seek to

meet their needs lower down in the hierarchy

before they move on to their ‘higher’ needs.

Housing is one of the basic needs, placed on the lowest tier of the hierarchy.

OUTCOMES

Whole People

6 - simplypsychology.org/maslow.html, accessed 17 Jan 2019

The lived experience stories that were shared as part of our consultations covered the whole of Maslow’s hierarchy. Basic needs, such as food, shelter and safety; psychological needs such as relationships and feeling capable in the world;

We want to consider the whole of people’s needs;and we want to see people made whole.

Imagined Housing’s first principle, then is:

LIVED EXPERIENCE WORKSHOP

through to self-actualisation, and the feeling that they were fulfilling their potential in the world (or more often, that they were trapped in various ways). They brought their whole selves to the conversation.

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The purpose of this workshop was to gain insights from

frontline or operational sta� with community service

organisations, including not-for-profits and

government. Around 30 frontline workers attended.

Attendees were invited to build on the journey

mapping completed by people with lived experience,

as well as mapping their own knowledge of strengths,

weaknesses and opportunities relating to

homelessness in the south-west metropolitan area.

#2 FRONTLINE WORKSHOP FREMANTLE TOWN HALL

30Frontlineworkers

04.12.20182-4PM

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PROCESSAttendees identified desirable

improvements that would make things

better for clients, including:

Using processes that include and empower

– co-design; plain English; technology-based

systems (for some people); NOT

technology-based systems (for some

people);

Use processes that don’t further or

re-traumatise: skilled/trained sta�; care

co-ordination;

HOUSES

A specific priority was to make connections

between people and homes. Opportunities

and gaps identified included:

Connecting housing with work: caretakers

for light industrial; live-in carers for people;

live-in gardeners; live-in key-keepers.

Connecting people with small-but-su�cient

housing: granny flats; boarders; lodgers;

as-yet-unknown-models.

Using empty buildings.

Moving the support, rather than the people,

in order to keep people connected to

existing networks such as schools.

Getting the homes we need: 1-bed social

housing was identified as being much more

di�cult to access than 2- or 3-bed

properties; allowing people to under-occupy

for the sake of other outcomes

(grandchildren, home-based work, extended

family, interests).

OPPORTUNITIES& GAPSOpportunities and gaps identified

included:

Connecting physically on an ongoing basis

through co-location of services.

Connecting physically at specific locations such

as the hospitals in the region (especially Fiona

Stanley); after hours GP clinics; libraries;

community centres; through a south-west metro

‘Homeless Connect’ event.

Connecting physically by being mobile – more

outreach, from a greater range of service

providers (e.g. Department of Communities,

mobile libraries).

Connecting in how we practice or provide

services: case management; navigation support

(e.g. volunteer facilitators, peer support);

decisions about service provision criteria (i.e.

more rigid criteria means less capacity to

practice in a connected way across services);

referrals.

Connecting through information: newsletters;

contact information; databases or shared

information sources; referrals; Interagency

Network Meeting (Rockingham).

Key gaps include in the area of weekend and

after hours services.

Further work is needed to verify whether

apparent gaps in particular locations or for

particular cohorts are real and pressing (e.g.

availability of homelessness services at Fiona

Stanley Hospital).

FRONTLINE WORKSHOP

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FRONTLINE WORKSHOP

CLIENTSClients – their diversity, their

perspectives, and their needs – were

front of mind for attendees.

Opportunities and gaps identified included:

Challenges for clients with mental health issues;

it is di�cult to access accommodation if mental

health issues are not stabilized, and di�cult to

stabilize mental health issues if someone is not

living in appropriate accommodation.

Volunteering opportunities for clients.

Peer-support models being of benefit to people

whose situations have stabilized, as well as

those currently experiencing homelessness.

The interface with job service providers; helping

clients move from unemployment to

employment is challenging. Volunteering and

other ways of easing people into employment

were identified.

Sport was identified as a potentially useful tool.

The need to provide trauma-informed;

person-centered; culturally-sensitive services.

BIG PICTUREAttendees had a range of visions for

serious change, including:

“Makehomelessness

illegal...”

Make homelessness illegal, like it is in the

UK. [Through legislation, a duty has been

imposed on local governments to provide

housing to people in need.]

Legislate housing as a human right.

The Department of Communities now

exists: what opportunities does that

present in the south-west metro area?

Community trouble-shooters – not

necessarily police, but with the authority to

intervene/keep people safe/provide safe

houses.

#2

MakingConnections

Our second Imagined Housing principle is therefore:

ANALYSISThe idea of making connections permeated almost everything that attendees at the Frontline Sta� workshop talked about. Making connections is what frontline sta� do, day-to-day. Being able to make connections between people, organisations and ideas is a valuable

tool for working around scarcity of resources. It is a necessary tool for bringing in specialist resources where they’re needed. If they’re made and maintained, connections are protective for vulnerable people, giving them networks of support.

FRONTLINE WORKSHOP

BIG PICTUREAttendees had a range of visions for

serious change, including:

Make homelessness illegal, like it is in the

UK. [Through legislation, a duty has been

imposed on local governments to provide

housing to people in need.]

Legislate housing as a human right.

The Department of Communities now

exists: what opportunities does that

present in the south-west metro area?

Community trouble-shooters – not

necessarily police, but with the authority to

intervene/keep people safe/provide safe

houses.

15

#3 DECISION MAKERS WORKSHOP FREMANTLE TOWN HALL

The purpose of this workshop was to gain insights from

decision-makers in human services agencies, including

not-for-profits and government. More than 20 senior

sta� attended. Attendees were invited to imagine a

desired future state for housing and homelessness in

the south-west metro area of Perth, and describe it in a

letter to someone they cared about who would be alive

then. The letters were thoughtful, passionate and

practical.

6.12.20189:30-11AM

16

DECISION MAKERS WORKSHOP

COMPLEX, BUT SIMPLE...

ENOUGH RESOURCESFOR THE RIGHT THINGS

‘…the truly shocking thing for me is how simple

it is for everyday people to end up homeless,

and how limited our capacity to get them back

into accommodation…’

‘The issue of housing/homelessness in the

area we live is complex and often confounding.

There are many interrelated problems that

homeless people face, and a lack of a�ordable

housing is only one. But if we ensured that all

people had access to shelter first, maybe many

of their other complex challenges could be

resolved incrementally.’

‘…There are very many well intentioned people

who provide a whole range of services to

people without a home, many of them

volunteers wanting to make a di�erence.

However, the majority of services don’t involve

giving people a home, but helping them to

manage their homelessness…[W]e haven’t

managed to build an e�ective response system

to ensure that if people find themselves

without a home, within days they will have a

safe and secure home and the supports they

need to maintain that home…’

Attendees were aware of a tension:

homelessness is complex. Its causes are many,

people experiencing homelessness often have

many serious needs, and our response

systems can be di�cult to navigate.

But homelessness is also simple: it is the

condition of being without a home, and having

a home solves it (although it might not solve

problems associated with keeping that home).

‘Let’s talk about pulling the funding together

and decide what we can do with this as a

collective, what we need to do to make

positive solutions in the community. Let’s get

real and say what we are doing isn’t

working…so let’s really ask how do we need to

do this di�erently.’

‘There is so much great e�ort and intent

around moving the dial on housing and

homelessness, but the problem remains and

indeed gets worse in some respects. At the

chronic end, there are a small but significant

number who fall through the gaps because of

their complexity. At other parts of the spectrum

there are blockages which perhaps could be

resolved with new resources and better use of

current resources.’

‘I would like to see a place that is inclusive,

caring, non-judgmental, where there are

enough supports and initiatives to ensure

pathways out of homelessness. Initiatives/

social enterprises/innovations that showcase

what a joined-up community can look like.’

Again, attendees at this workshop were aware

of tensions. They knew that:

There’s lots of good stu� going on, but what

we’re doing is not necessarily working; and,

Not everyone experiencing homelessness

has the same experience, or needs the same

kind of help;

We may need to move resources from one

thing to another thing.

17

Right Resources

The third principle for Imagined Housing is:

ANALYSISIt was striking that attendees at this workshop were willing to be vulnerable and acknowledge that we may not be using our resources in the best possible way. This implies an openness to change, and a

commitment to pursuing outcomes, rather than ‘guarding patches’. They were also clear that there are probably insu�cient resources available if we want to deal e�ectively with homelessness in our region.

#3 DECISION MAKERS WORKSHOP

#4 BUSINESS & COMMUNITYWORKSHOP COOLBELLUP HUB (SUPPORTED BY THE CITY OF COCKBURN)

The purpose of this workshop was to gain insights, and

gauge interest from members of the community and

businesses in the region. 18 people attended, including

representatives of businesses and churches. Attendees

heard a presentation from Jonathan Shapeira, founder of

South West Australian Homeless People, a lived-experience

advocacy group. Because it was a relatively small group, we

joined in a group discussion on ideas and priorities.

6.12.20184-5:30PM

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GETTING MOREPEOPLE INVOLVEDAttendees were convinced that we need

more people to get involved, and that

there are people out there who can be

mobilized.

They identified high-impact groups (young

people, philanthropists, businesses), and

methods for getting to those people

(high-quality marketing, social media, physical

things like noticeboards and meetings).

EMPATHY

Listening to the experiences and hopes of a

person who has been homeless was powerful

and motivating.

Attendees were concerned about the impact of

trauma, and the complexity of helping people

with multiple pressing needs such as mental

health, drug and alcohol and other issues.

They noted important gaps between the public

perceptions of people experiencing

homelessness or living in social housing, and

the reality.

RESOURCES

Attendees had ideas about potential sources

of resources that could be brought to bear on

the issue of homelessness, including: Social housing that is vacant, under-occupied, or in need of maintenance; Local government land, including land that is underutilized; Self-managed superannuation funds; Industrial land, and land on the edges of the city; Vertical space; and, Land owned by churches.

#4 BUSINESS & COMMUNITY WORKSHOP

They noted that planning regulations seem to function as a control mechanism, rather than an enabling mechanism to help create the neighbourhoods we want.

ACTION

The strongest theme of this session was a

desire for action. Attendees were already in

action, as supporters of St Pat’s and other

charities, sharing their homes with others, and

engaging in (sometimes di�cult)

conversations and advocacy.

They were keen to see not-for-profits taking a

key role in making connections between people

in need and people wanting to help. There was

a level of skepticism about whether engaging in

political advocacy would be helpful, but also a

desire to find the pressure points that would

drive change. People wanted to know, ‘What do

you want me to do?’

YIMBY

‘YIMBY’ stands for ‘Yes In My Backyard’. It’s a

play on the idea of ‘NIMBY’ (Not In My

Backyard).

It resonated with many attendees, accurately

describing their preference that ‘housing needs

to be integrated – it’s about building

community’.

“What do youwant me to do?”

Y

YES IN MY BACKYARD!

We may need to move resources from one

thing to another thing.

Action YIMBY!

Our final Imagined Housing principle was this group’s priority:

ANALYSISAttendees at this workshop were engaged and passionate. They wanted to see things change, and they wanted to be involved in that change. They had ideas and knowledge that the other groups didn’t. Many were unsure about where best to put their energy, particularly because they felt that

it was unlikely that what they could do would make a di�erence unless it was co-ordinated with others. But even in the absence of an overall plan, they were getting on with doing what they could.

21

In our next phase, Imagined Housing will pursue the following next steps.

RECOMMENDATIONSAND NEXT STEPS

FRIDAYS, FUNERALS

Imagined Housing organisations will

commit to scheduling things that

important to, or for, Aboriginal people

on days other than Fridays.

RENT HELP: The gap between market rent

and a�ordable rent for a low income

household is around $8,000/year.

Imagined Housing will explore options to

work with the community to cover this gap

for vulnerable households.

BY-NAME LIST

Imagined Housing organisations will

participate in the development of a

real-time list of individuals who are rough

sleeping in Perth and Fremantle. It will

ensure that we’re working in a coordinated

way to help some of the most vulnerable

members of our community.

RENT HERE: Connecting landlords who can

o�er below-market rentals and households

who need them.

RENT NEW: Purpose-built homes suitable for

a range of low-income households including

those with pets, accessibility needs, etc.

IMAGINED HOUSING HOMES

LEARN: Invite an Imagined Housing

speaker to an event.

SHARE: One thing you’ve learned –

who will you share it with?

SUPPORT: Say yes to welcoming people to

your neighbourhood. Write to your local

government to encourage planning reform;

write to your State and Federal MPs to tell

them you want to see more social and

a�ordable housing in your community.

YIMBYS OF THE SOUTH-WEST METRO

NOW

Imagined Housing

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We welcome your support in this journey! Please get in contact.

CONTACT

LEARNING FROM ELDERS

Imagined Housing organisations will

seek out opportunities to ensure that

the wisdom of Aboriginal elders is

shared with younger generations.

AFTER HOURS AND WEEKEND SERVICES

We’ll map where services are being provided after hours and on weekends.

This service o�ering has contracted as funding has become tighter.

CO-DESIGN

Imagined Housing organisations will

increasingly use co-design strategies in our

service design and service delivery

practice.

SERVICES BY LOCATION

We’ll assess services in key hubs

across the region on two axes:

by intensity and by type,

MOREENGAGEMENT HUBS(DAY CENTRES)

Explore potential locations or existing

providers who could increase their hours.

Karyn Lochore

(08) 9430 4159

klochore@stpats.com.au

stpats.com.au/imaginedhousing

NEXT

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Imagined Housing

YES IN MY BACKYARD!

SOUTH WEST METRO

WholePeople

MakingConnections

RightResources

YIMBYAction

Say YES to welcoming people into YOUR neighbourhood.

stpats.com.au/imaginedhousing