Which Way Home? Green Paper on Homelessness - Questions and Answers
1. What changes are happening to the way the Commonwealth funds state and territory governments?
2. What is the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA)?
3. If a new national agreement is being negotiated what does that mean for the SAAP legislation?
4. What is a Green Paper on Homelessness?
5. What will be in the White Paper on Homelessness?
6. Why do the reform options in the Green Paper only focus on SAAP?
7. Are these the only options?
8. Where can I get a copy of the Green Paper?
9. Why isn't the government holding a consultation session near me?
10. How will you make sure people who are homeless get to have their say?
11. How do I make a submission to the White Paper Process?
12. What about people who don't have access to a computer?
13. When do submissions close?
14. Why is the consultation period so short?
15. How will my submission be incorporated?
16. Can I make a submission anonymously?
17. Will submissions be made public? Can I read other people's submissions?
18. How will the government get the states and territories to agree to the recommendations in the White Paper?
19. Who and what is the Steering Group?
What changes are happening to the way the Commonwealth funds state and territory governments?
In March 2008 the Council of Australian Governments agreed to the key elements of a ground breaking new Intergovernmental Agreement on Commonwealth-State financial arrangements, which will be finalised by the end of 2008.
The new financial framework will lead to a significant change to Specific Purpose Payments (SPPs) - which are payments made to the states and territories by the Commonwealth to pursue national policy objectives. The Supported Accommodation and Assistance Program (SAAP) is currently funded through an SPP.
SPPs will be combined into a much smaller number of new national agreements. While the funding arrangements will change there will be no reduction in total Commonwealth funding for these activities.
Current housing-related SPPs, including the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement (CSHA) and SAAP will be combined into a new National Affordable Housing Agreement, expected to commence from 1 January 2009.
The new agreements will focus on agreed outcomes and outputs and will clearly identify the roles and responsibilities of each level of government. This will provide greater flexibility for states and territories to allocate resources to areas where they will produce the best outcomes for the community.
What is the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA)?
The NAHA will be an SPP agreement involving all levels of governments and will be the overarching framework for Australia's affordable housing and homelessness strategies. It will bring together the existing government homelessness and housing subsidies and programs. The aim is to deliver better housing outcomes for people, whether they are currently homeless or trying to find an affordable rental home or a home to buy.
The Council of Australian Government's Housing Working Group is leading development of the NAHA. Subject to formal COAG agreement, the NAHA is expected to commence from 1 January 2009. It will include performance outcomes relating to homelessness that states and territories will be required to report against.
This means that the SAAP agreement will be combined with the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement in the National Affordable Housing Agreement.
Note that funding for states and territories in these program areas will not decrease.
If a new national agreement is being negotiated what does that mean for the SAAP legislation?
The SAAP legislation will be discussed as part of the development of the new National Affordability Housing Agreement (NAHA) and the White Paper on Homelessness. The public consultation and submissions on the Green Paper on Homelessness will inform this discussion.
What is a Green Paper on Homelessness?
A Green Paper is a discussion paper. It sets out the problem and suggests some ways things could be changed. People will then get a chance to say what they think before the Government makes any decisions.
What will be in the White Paper on Homelessness?
The White Paper will say what the Government plans to do about homelessness and will set out a plan of action for the years leading up to 2020.
Why do the reform options in the Green Paper only focus on SAAP?
The options focus both on the interaction between SAAP and mainstream services. While SAAP is the governments' main response to homelessness most homeless people also have contact with mainstream services.
To reduce homelessness over the long term SAAP and mainstream services need to work better together.
More attention needs to be given to prevention and early intervention. We need to stop the cycle of homelessness. SAAP is only part of the solution. Mainstream services provided by education, justice, employment, child protection and the income support systems also have an important role to play in preventing and reducing homelessness.
Are these the only options?
Absolutely not.
The Green Paper suggests three options to reform current services provided to homeless people.
Each of the options aim to build stronger links between current crisis services and the wider mainstream service system.
These options are not recommendations or statements of government policy - they are simply ideas put forward to stimulate discussion. There may be other things that could be done to improve our approach to homelessness generally.
The options in the Green Paper are designed to help people think about new possibilities.
We want submissions on how we deliver better outcomes on homelessness including specific changes that would make the system work better.
We welcome submissions which critique the options put forward and offer concrete alternatives. Send us your options 4, 5 or 6!
Where can I get a copy of the Green Paper?
Copies of the Green Paper can be downloaded from this web site. You can also can call 1800 774 055 and ask for hard copies to be sent to you.
Why isn't the government holding a consultation session near me?
Consultation sessions will be held in all capital cities and a number of regional centres. People who are not able to attend forums are encouraged to put in a submission.
How will you make sure people who are homeless get to have their say?
Throughout the consultation process, the government is using avenues to make sure people have their say.
We are providing a telephone hotline, encouraging peak organisations to consult with their consumers and holding open forums. There are also a range of ways people can make submissions
We have also commissioned Orima Research to hold focus groups and individual sessions around Australia with people who are 'at risk' or are homeless. This includes asking them about their attitudes, aspirations and experiences of homelessness and services and ideas for change. Almost 300 homeless people have participated from a range of different groups such as women escaping domestic violence, youth, single men and older people.
Orima Research is also talking to service providers about the strengths and weaknesses of current services, barriers, gaps, innovations and possible new approaches. Almost 2,000 SAAP, Job Network, Reconnect, JPET, PSP and NAYSS service providers have been surveyed.
The Orima Research findings will inform the development of the White Paper.
The public consultation forums are open to everyone and written submissions are encouraged from anyone. People can provide electronic or hard copy submissions.
How do I make a submission to the White Paper Process?
All information relating to making a submission can be obtained from the fahcsia website or ringing 1800 774 055.
An online submission template is available at the Green Paper web page. By following the prompts you will be able to complete your submission online.
What about people who don't have access to a computer?
To obtain a hard copy of the template and reply paid envelope, you should ring the 1800 774 055.
Submissions can also be sent by post to:
- Homelessness Green Paper Submissions
PO Box 7442
CANBERRA BC ACT 2610
When do submissions close?
The Minister has agreed to extend the closing date for submissions to 27June 2008.
Why is the consultation period so short?
A lot of work will need to be done to consider the breadth of ideas put forward in consultation forums and submissions before the White Paper is released in September 2008. We also need to talk to the States and Territories about to agree on national priorities.
For these reasons we need to get started as soon as we can.
Based on feedback from the homelessness sector, the Minister has agreed to extend the deadline for submissions until 27 June 2008.
How will my submission be incorporated?
A team within the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs will carefully review and analyse all submissions. This will inform the development of the White Paper.
Submissions may also be specifically referenced in the White Paper.
A consolidated report will identify the key themes, ideas and responses to the consultation questions from submissions, and this will be made publicly available when the White Paper is released later this year.
Can I make a submission anonymously?
Yes.
Will submissions be made public? Can I read other people's submissions?
The government intends to publish the submissions on the www.fahcsia.gov.au website, unless submission writers state they would like to keep their submissions private. Individuals and organisations may choose to publish their submissions on their own websites.
How will the government get the states and territories to agree to the recommendations in the White Paper?
Addressing homelessness requires a truly national response and partnerships across all levels of government, the community and business sectors, and at the local community level. In developing the White Paper the government will work closely with states and territories to develop ideas and agree on priorities.
Who and what is the Steering Group?
In January 2008 the Prime Minister appointed Mr Tony Nicholson to chair an expert Steering Group to assist in the development of the government's new bold and broad approach to homelessness. The Steering Group was asked to inform and guide the development of the Green and White Papers and to provide leadership and direction on the core elements of a new approach.
Mr Nicholson is Executive Director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and is based in Victoria. He has worked in this field for almost 25 years, including 14 years as Chief Executive Officer of Hanover Welfare Services, a Melbourne-based service for the homeless.
Ms Nancarrow is from Queensland and is an experienced academic and public servant. She has provided advice to the Commonwealth and State Governments on the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program and is currently Director of the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research.
Ms Buduls is a company director and philanthropist. She has worked as a journalist with the Australian Financial Review, a corporate adviser to Macquarie Bank and managed investor relations at Westpac. Ms Buduls has also been actively involved in homeless services.
Members of the Steering Group will be attending most of the public forums and will provide guidance in consolidating the diversity of views and ideas that come forward, and advice on directions for the White Paper.