Community Sector Partnership Team – Taskforce on Homelessness Update

Hello everyone,

Following last week’s COVID-19 Taskforce on Homelessness meeting, please see below the key issues covered and actions going forward:

• Planning for Recovery

Head of Recovery, Paul Issachsen joined the Taskforce to recap the newly announced State Government COVID-19 Recovery Plan and how the Department will be looking to the Taskforces to inform and support the ‘Social’ domain, led by Director-General Michelle Andrews.

Next guest presenter: a member of SHICC will be invited to a future meeting.

• Impact Statements

Updated draft COVID-19 Impact Statements are being released to the taskforces for review and feedback on the data analysis. The Taskforce was invited to share their own modelling as well as anecdotal information from the frontline to inform the Statements.

• Data sets
Collaboration has commenced with the Department’s data analysts to accurately quantify Perth’s current rough sleeper cohort. The By Name List has been identified as a critical data source, with taskforce members to assist in updating its content, while WALGA and Regional Cities Alliance have also been engaged to share their data.

• Scenario Planning

The taskforce agreed to pursue four scenarios under the guidance of Anglicare WA’s Kate Chaney. One scenario will plan the response to a potential localised COVID-19 outbreak, while the remaining three will explore the social impacts of forecast welfare changes. Boston Consulting has been approached to provide pro-bono modelling to inform the scenario planning.

• Nous Reset

The options paper, prepared by Nous, outlining a way for the agency and sector to move forwards in partnership is now with the Director-General to consider. The work is the outcome of recent workshops to capture perceptions of partnership and its purpose.

• Moving forward

Penny Kennedy will be heading up the Sector Partnerships team into the future as I return to my previous role within the Department. I will continue to serve as co-chair of this Taskforce.

The next Taskforce meeting is scheduled for Thursday 11 June, 2020.

Thank you,

Tiffany Allen
Co-Chair, COVID-19 Taskforce: People at risk of, or experiencing homelessness