JulieDuncan StateManager, South Australia
2017-18 was a transformational year for Housing Choices’ South Australian team. In preparation for the transfer of 840 new properties and tenancies under the South Australian Government’s Renewing our Streets and Suburbs (ROSAS) Program, we increased our operational capacity, doubled our o ce space, implemented a new sta ng structure and recruited a whole new team to deliver tenancy and property management to our new residents.
What followed was a smooth and successful integration of the new portfolio and all residents across to our organisation. It was an outstanding achievement by our South Australian team and the operational team at head o ce in Melbourne; an exemplar demonstration of coordination, cooperation, collaboration, e ciency and goodwill. To support the housing team in managing some of the more complex presenting issues of residents involved in the ROSAS transfer, we have trialed an intensive housing worker role to help link vulnerable residents, or those who have a tenancy at risk, with support services. Our aim is to help residents maintain their independence and ensure their tenancy is sustainable. Early results from this new service have been significant. In the first eight months, we identified more than 70 residents in need of specialist supports. More than 50% are now receiving the help they need and 32 have been helped to address issues related to severe hoarding. We continue to receive positive feedback about the model and the interventions we o er. In December, we held our first Christmas party for our new ROSAS residents; more than 80 of whom gathered to share lunch and some pre-Christmas cheer. It’s through events like these that we get to know our residents and they get to know each other. It helps us to find out what they want and need from our services and is a great opportunity to encourage them to get involved in our resident advisory opportunities. A major component of our ROSAS stock management transfer contract is the delivery of an Asset & Investment plan across the transfer portfolio. After months of hard work and evaluation, our Final Investment & Asset Management Plan (FIAMP) was completed and submitted for approval to the South Australian Government. This plan will hopefully enable us to deliver more than $27m in maintenance, property upgrades and an exciting new housing construction program.
Following the change of government in South Australia in March, the Hon Michelle Lensink MLC was appointed Minister for Human Services and we were pleased to host her visit to Housing Choices in the early weeks of her new role. After a period of uncertainty, funding was secured for our flagship Common Ground Adelaide Support Service until January 2020, under the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement. This allows us to continue to deliver our permanent supportive housing program and further develop the suite of services on o er. The new government has indicated an intention to undertake a homelessness sector reform, ahead of the expiring service agreement, which will help us to inform and shape our service o ering in preparation for future funding rounds. It was also a pleasure to welcome the ACT Minister for Housing, Yvette Berry MLA, for a tour of our Common Ground Adelaide program, and host an ACT Government housing delegation investigating the expansion of this concept in their region. Two of our team members were invited to participate in a round table workshop in Canberra on service planning. In everything we do, our partnerships are an important factor to our success, and this year we continued to build on these. The Inspiring Health in the Inner-City project was a highlight of the year; a collaboration between Housing Choices, Flinders University and the University of Adelaide. Over 50 residents participated in health screening activities, questionnaires and assessments, to evaluate their physical, emotional and cognitive health and wellbeing. The program identified opportunities to improve specific individual health outcomes and participants were o ered individualised reports that directed them to resources and activities that will benefit them. The study also identified a number of health education priorities for our residents in the years ahead, including general physical fitness, blood pressure, diabetes, nutrition, sleep quality, hearing, cardiovascular, psychological care and continence. During the year we welcomed Neami’s Street to Home service to our Light Square and Mellor Street sites, a service that works to identify and provide support for Adelaide’s most vulnerable, including homeless and rough sleepers, and build pathways for them to move into safe housing.
43 | Annual Report 2018
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