vcoss congress 2007 beyond citizenship-visions for rights and real engagement

VCOSS Congress 2007

Beyond Citizenship-Visions for Rights and real engagement:

“Community well being begins with appropriate housing - reflections of

local government responses”

Melanie Mills, City of Knox

Peter Johnston, City of Darebin

Kate Incerti, City of Port Phillip

VCOSS Congress 2007Beyond Citizenship-Visions for Rights and real engagement

Housing tenure potentially plays an important role in determining whether an individual is able to manage financially, and in turn, take part in social activities, have social connections, feel integrated, maintain good health and do the things they value - in essence - experience full

citizenship and real engagement.


Research of various policy paradigms has

supported the finding that local allocations

policies and plans are greater aligned to

sustainable communities and community

building.


Principals of individual and community

wellbeing:

• Developing local solutions for local communities

• Secure, accessible and affordable housing

• Housing choice within a familiar neighbourhood

• Optimising positive ageing and wellbeing.


• Sponsorship Housing Programs are agreements between Councils ,sometimes in partnership with other community organisations

• Sponsorship programs recognise previous substantial gifts of land and are supported by ongoing rate subsidies by these Councils

• The program is referred to in OOH Policy & Procedures and in Deeds of Agreement with local government

• Eligibility is generally for people aged 55+ ,with links to the area from all segments of OOH waiting list.

The capacity of individual Councils vary from:

• A smaller allocation program - Maribyrnong & Hobson’s Bay - 70 units and 90 units respectively;

• A medium allocation program - Knox – 260 units and Darebin – 250 units; and

• A larger allocation program - Port Phillip – 435 units.



Sponsorship Housing Programs aim to

provide a continuum of care from the first

point of contact through to the applicant’s

eventual exit from public housing through

death or transfer to supported

accommodation.


Assistance provided by Local Government

housing officers includes:• Follow up• Home visits• Introductions to neighbours• Referral to appropriate supports• Invitations to community activities• Obtaining emergency contact details


It has been estimated that in 2050,

75% of older Australians will still be

dependent on the Age pension for all

or part of their income and half will be

drawing the full pension.


Data collection based on shared learnings

and experiences.

This quantitative and qualitative data

collection aims to identify the client’s

housing needs and outcomes which

include their health and social needs.


We plan to:• Link in with the Housing and Local Government Network

(HALGN)• Document clearer and consistent allocation policies• Explore opportunities to promote best practice• Identify ways of promoting our advocacy responses to

diversity, social cohesion and positive ageing • Evaluate policy development processes and data

collection models


• For further information, please contact:

Melanie Mills, City of Knox

[email protected]

Peter Johnston, City of Darebin

[email protected]

Kate Incerti, City of Port Phillip

[email protected]

vcoss congress 2007 beyond citizenship-visions for rights and real engagement

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