Shelter WA welcomes the announcement from the McGowan Government that they are exploring hotel rooms to accommodate people experiencing homelessness. Western Australians who are experiencing homelessness and especially those that are rough sleeping are at significant risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19.
State and National Governments have already taken great measures to try and flatten the curve. People experiencing homelessness are in a very vulnerable situation and we need to do more to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19. This step by the Government will help address the fear amongst people on the street and alleviate pressure on the hospital system, but more action is needed now.
Associate Professor Lisa Wood from UWA recently advised that, “20.5% of Homeless Healthcare patients who had an ED presentation or inpatient admission (2017-2019) were recorded in hospital data has having a primary diagnosis of one or more chronic conditions associated with COVID-19 mortality risk i.e. hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease; and chronic respiratory disease.”
People need to be off the streets right now
“We need to get people off the streets now,” said Michelle Mackenzie CEO of Shelter WA. “Homelessness services are essential, and urgent funding and resources, including access to housing, accommodation and support services, are needed to respond to increasing demand to care, protect and prevent the risk of transmission. A trial is fantastic but so much more is needed.”
Over 9,000 Western Australians have no place to call home and 1,000 are rough sleepers. Official advice is to stay home and self-isolate, however this is simply impossible. We need additional solutions for homelessness and housing services across Western Australia.
Decision highlights the need for safe place to live
“The social housing and homelessness sector has been under pressure for years. Everyone has a right to a place to call home, and this is true now more than ever during these exceptional times,” said Michelle.
The step that the McGowan Government has taken highlights the importance of a safe place to live. A checklist has been developed to enable a covid-19 care, protect and prevent approach to assess the suitability of accommodation options and better understand people’s immediate and longer-term needs. Our sector will use this opportunity through a housing first approach to engage with people to develop permanent housing solutions and support beyond this crisis.
Shelter WA is working in partnership with the Western Australian Alliance to End Homelessness, Government and the community sector through a COVID-19 Homelessness Taskforce for a suite of urgent initiatives. We need to care for, prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in people experiencing homelessness, and the broader community. Housing and support is a critical line of defence.
Read the release from the Hon Simone McGurk MLA here.
Fast Facts
Fast Facts • Over 9,000 people experience homelessness every day • Over 4,300 people access specialist homelessness services every day. • Over 14,000 are on the wait list for social housing. • Over 1,300 people live in boarding houses • Over 6,000 people live in insecure housing are at risk of homelessness. • Over 20% of the homeless patients presenting to ED or admitted to hospital have one or more risk factors for COVID- 19.
Media Contact
Michelle Mackenzie CEO & Spokesperson – Shelter WA 0419 931 819 ceo@shelterwa.org.au
About – Shelter WA: Shelter WA is the independent peak body in Western Australia that advocates for social and affordable housing and ending homelessness.
https://www.shelterwa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/jp-valery-DE9MM2voqKc-unsplash-scaled.jpg17072560Royceton Hardeyhttps://www.shelterwa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Shelter-WA-40-years_Horizontal.pngRoyceton Hardey2020-03-31 10:48:202020-03-31 11:02:38MEDIA RELEASE: Hotel doors opened to those who have no place to call home
These are unprecedented
times for us all with the spread of COVID-19. The impact on services and their
workforce is being felt, with agencies continuing to deliver good outcomes for
clients under challenging circumstances. It’s especially concerning for those
who are already at risk with no place to call home or experiencing housing
insecurity.
COVID-19 lead group
Shelter WA have been
working closely this week with social and affordable housing providers and homelessness
service providers to understand the very real concerns and risks for staff,
clients and tenants. From these meetings a COVID-19 lead homelessness group has
been established by Shelter WA to drive and inform a sector response. Members
of this group are:
Samantha Drury – CEO St Barts
John Berger – WA Alliance to End Homelessness
Mark Glasson – CEO Anglicare WA
Michael Piu – CEO St Pat’s
Michelle Mackenzie – CEO Shelter WA
Debra Zanella – CEO Ruah
Amanda Hunt – CEO UnitingCare West
This group will be meeting every two days for a sector pulse check and to drive input into communications, media engagement, and a package of resources and support needed by the sector to support their services, workforce and clients. A number of groups are focusing on specific streams such as supported accommodation, led by Natalie Sangalli from Access Housing, engagement hubs and outreach led by Amanda Hunt from UnitingCare West and public housing and evictions led by Jesse Noakes from Day Dawn.
Advocacy for resourcing and support
We are working closely with National Shelter on a federal package of support for the housing and homelessness services. Advocacy with State government is progressing in partnership with the sector and other PEAK bodies. Shelter WA sites on a COVID-19 whole of working government group, direct meetings with senior staff at the Department of Communities and at a Ministerial level. The key issues raised by the sector can be found here. Further consideration is being given on how we can support the sector during this time.
Media releases
Shelter WA yesterday issued a media release to a number of outlets across Western Australia and we are in the process of organising interviews and providing more information to these journalists.
On-line Resources
Shelter WA has created a dedicated COVID 19section on the website, which is housing useful links including
Advice
for your workforce
Links
that have a social and affordable housing and homelessness focus, not just from
Western Australia, but nationally and globally
General
COVID-19 links from local government as well as local and national agencies
Shelter
WA media releases and statements
Government
responses that are specific to social and affordable housing and homelessness
Members
information and responses
Staff
Skeleton staff are working from the office until further notice, meetings will be limited to telephone calls or web conferences. We are working continually to ensure that we can collaborate with all key stake holders and will continue to send communications in order to keep you up to date.
Information and engagement
We are organising a webinar
for next week with Lisa Wood and Andrew Davies to talk about public health,
primary care, and responses to Covid-19 in a housing and homelessness context. Details
for this webinar will follow in the coming days.
Please keep an eye on our events section of the website – we will continue with critical engagement via ZOOM facilities.
Shared Good Practice
We understand that with limited resources that it can be difficult to create plans and resources, so we have asked that members and organisations to share good practice for the benefit of others in these difficult times. Contingency plans and response can be found on the website.
Updates
We will send updates each
week, however if we feel that it is vital that you receive additional information,
we will send out extra updates. In the meantime, please check the website
regularly as this is being continually updated with resources as they become
available.
How can you help?
Please share any links or resources that you think may be of assistance to others within this sector to comms@shelterwa.org.au or if you wish to put forward any questions information that can contribute to the sector response please email shelterwa@shelterwa.org.au
https://www.shelterwa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cdc-miQssrNdqEQ-unsplash-scaled.jpg17072560Heather Bushhttps://www.shelterwa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Shelter-WA-40-years_Horizontal.pngHeather Bush2020-03-20 09:02:162020-03-20 19:27:27SHELTER WA STATEMENT: COVID-19. 20 March 2020
Many people, already doing it tough with insecure or no housing, are being hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, along with the homelessness and housing services that support them.
Homelessness services providers from across Western Australia met to discuss the current and future impact of COVID-19 on their services and their clients. Services, already at full capacity are stretched and face a tsunami of additional pressures as the pandemic’s impact unfolds.
Issues raised included maintaining services if staff or clients are exposed to Covid-19, the problem of sourcing critical supplies, the inability of people who live in boarding or lodging houses or overcrowded homes to self-isolate, and the significant cost and resourcing implications to backfill staff who cannot work. Front and center of discussions was the concern for people who are sleeping rough, who are often unwell and those at risk of falling into homelessness.
Targeted and safe outreach services
“To flatten the curve, we need immediate support for people who experience homelessness or live in overcrowded, insecure and inappropriate housing,” said Michelle Mackenzie, CEO of Shelter WA. ‘Immediate access to housing and accommodation for people to self-isolate is critical, along with targeted, safe outreach services to people sleeping rough, who are often unwell and more at risk.”
“We are hearing that people who are experiencing homelessness are fearful, so access to good information about COVID-19 with targeted response measures including housing and service support must be provided.”
Supporting people in the casualised workforce
As the economic consequences hit, the flow on to an already stretched social housing and homelessness sector will be acute. Many people are at risk of housing insecurity as they are unable to pay bills, mortgages or rents due to circumstances beyond their control such as illness, self-isolation or job losses. There is an urgent need to support people in the casualised workforce and those on income support to ensure they do not fall into homelessness.
A C-19 response team for homelessness has been established by the homelessness services sector in partnership with Shelter WA to co-ordinate a sector response and to work with government on specific initiatives.
Rough sleepers are particularly vulnerable
Services are working hard leading measures to prevent and contain the virus, but targeted assistance is required. People experiencing homelessness, particularly those who are rough sleeping, are especially vulnerable in this outbreak, and we need to pull together to look after all people in our community.
Shelter WA along with the WA Alliance to End Homelessness and WA Council of Social Services are calling on the Federal and State Governments, to develop an urgent package of support. This includes increased outreach support, and access to testing and results for the people whom we support, urgent access to accommodation and housing to enable people to self-isolate, a moratorium on evictions, no exiting of people into homelessness, new funding for services to cover increased staffing and resource costs and access to shared clinical health expertise across the homelessness services system. Also, immediate support for people who lose their jobs to pay their rent to prevent a second wave of homelessness.
Homelessness and housing services must be recognized as critical services if we are to prevent and contain the risk of this virus spreading. Other jurisdictions have acted. We need an urgent response from government before it is too late.
Fast Facts
• Over 9,000 people experience homelessness every day across WA. • Over 4,300 people access specialist homelessness services every day. • Over 14,000 are on the wait list for social housing. • Over 6,000 people who live in insecure housing are at risk of homelessness.
Media Contacts
Michelle Mackenzie CEO & Spokesperson– Shelter WA 0419 931 819 ceo@shelterwa.org.au
John Berger Independent Chair of the Western Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (WAAEH) 0403 451 501 john@endhomelessnesswa.com
Samantha Drury CEO St Bart’s 0439 291 989 samantha.drury@stbarts.org.au
Debra Zanella CEO RUAH 0408 637 200 debra.zanella@ruah.org.au
Michael Piu CEO St. Patrick’s Community Support Centre 0402 121 268 mpiu@stpats.com.au
Mark Glasson CEO Anglicare WA 0419 930 521 mark.glasson@anglicarewa.org.au
MEDIA RELEASE: Hotel doors opened to those who have no place to call home
/in Media Releases, News /by Royceton HardeyShelter WA welcomes the announcement from the McGowan Government that they are exploring hotel rooms to accommodate people experiencing homelessness. Western Australians who are experiencing homelessness and especially those that are rough sleeping are at significant risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19.
State and National Governments have already taken great measures to try and flatten the curve. People experiencing homelessness are in a very vulnerable situation and we need to do more to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19. This step by the Government will help address the fear amongst people on the street and alleviate pressure on the hospital system, but more action is needed now.
Associate Professor Lisa Wood from UWA recently advised that, “20.5% of Homeless Healthcare patients who had an ED presentation or inpatient admission (2017-2019) were recorded in hospital data has having a primary diagnosis of one or more chronic conditions associated with COVID-19 mortality risk i.e. hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease; and chronic respiratory disease.”
People need to be off the streets right now
“We need to get people off the streets now,” said Michelle Mackenzie CEO of Shelter WA. “Homelessness services are essential, and urgent funding and resources, including access to housing, accommodation and support services, are needed to respond to increasing demand to care, protect and prevent the risk of transmission. A trial is fantastic but so much more is needed.”
Over 9,000 Western Australians have no place to call home and 1,000 are rough sleepers. Official advice is to stay home and self-isolate, however this is simply impossible. We need additional solutions for homelessness and housing services across Western Australia.
Decision highlights the need for safe place to live
“The social housing and homelessness sector has been under pressure for years. Everyone has a right to a place to call home, and this is true now more than ever during these exceptional times,” said Michelle.
The step that the McGowan Government has taken highlights the importance of a safe place to live. A checklist has been developed to enable a covid-19 care, protect and prevent approach to assess the suitability of accommodation options and better understand people’s immediate and longer-term needs. Our sector will use this opportunity through a housing first approach to engage with people to develop permanent housing solutions and support beyond this crisis.
Shelter WA is working in partnership with the Western Australian Alliance to End Homelessness, Government and the community sector through a COVID-19 Homelessness Taskforce for a suite of urgent initiatives. We need to care for, prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in people experiencing homelessness, and the broader community. Housing and support is a critical line of defence.
Read the release from the Hon Simone McGurk MLA here.
Fast Facts
Fast Facts
• Over 9,000 people experience homelessness every day
• Over 4,300 people access specialist homelessness services every day.
• Over 14,000 are on the wait list for social housing.
• Over 1,300 people live in boarding houses
• Over 6,000 people live in insecure housing are at risk of homelessness.
• Over 20% of the homeless patients presenting to ED or admitted to hospital have one or more risk factors for COVID- 19.
Media Contact
Michelle Mackenzie CEO & Spokesperson – Shelter WA 0419 931 819 ceo@shelterwa.org.au
About – Shelter WA: Shelter WA is the independent peak body in Western Australia that advocates for social and affordable housing and ending homelessness.
SHELTER WA STATEMENT: COVID-19. 20 March 2020
/in Media Releases, News /by Heather BushThese are unprecedented times for us all with the spread of COVID-19. The impact on services and their workforce is being felt, with agencies continuing to deliver good outcomes for clients under challenging circumstances. It’s especially concerning for those who are already at risk with no place to call home or experiencing housing insecurity.
COVID-19 lead group
Shelter WA have been working closely this week with social and affordable housing providers and homelessness service providers to understand the very real concerns and risks for staff, clients and tenants. From these meetings a COVID-19 lead homelessness group has been established by Shelter WA to drive and inform a sector response. Members of this group are:
This group will be meeting every two days for a sector pulse check and to drive input into communications, media engagement, and a package of resources and support needed by the sector to support their services, workforce and clients. A number of groups are focusing on specific streams such as supported accommodation, led by Natalie Sangalli from Access Housing, engagement hubs and outreach led by Amanda Hunt from UnitingCare West and public housing and evictions led by Jesse Noakes from Day Dawn.
Advocacy for resourcing and support
We are working closely with National Shelter on a federal package of support for the housing and homelessness services. Advocacy with State government is progressing in partnership with the sector and other PEAK bodies. Shelter WA sites on a COVID-19 whole of working government group, direct meetings with senior staff at the Department of Communities and at a Ministerial level. The key issues raised by the sector can be found here. Further consideration is being given on how we can support the sector during this time.
Media releases
Shelter WA yesterday issued a media release to a number of outlets across Western Australia and we are in the process of organising interviews and providing more information to these journalists.
On-line Resources
Shelter WA has created a dedicated COVID 19 section on the website, which is housing useful links including
Staff
Skeleton staff are working from the office until further notice, meetings will be limited to telephone calls or web conferences. We are working continually to ensure that we can collaborate with all key stake holders and will continue to send communications in order to keep you up to date.
Information and engagement
We are organising a webinar for next week with Lisa Wood and Andrew Davies to talk about public health, primary care, and responses to Covid-19 in a housing and homelessness context. Details for this webinar will follow in the coming days.
Please keep an eye on our events section of the website – we will continue with critical engagement via ZOOM facilities.
Shared Good Practice
We understand that with limited resources that it can be difficult to create plans and resources, so we have asked that members and organisations to share good practice for the benefit of others in these difficult times. Contingency plans and response can be found on the website.
Updates
We will send updates each week, however if we feel that it is vital that you receive additional information, we will send out extra updates. In the meantime, please check the website regularly as this is being continually updated with resources as they become available.
How can you help?
Please share any links or resources that you think may be of assistance to others within this sector to comms@shelterwa.org.au or if you wish to put forward any questions information that can contribute to the sector response please email shelterwa@shelterwa.org.au
MEDIA RELEASE: COVID-19 – Targeted Response to Homelessness Needed Now!
/in Media Releases, News /by Royceton HardeyMany people, already doing it tough with insecure or no housing, are being hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, along with the homelessness and housing services that support them.
Homelessness services providers from across Western Australia met to discuss the current and future impact of COVID-19 on their services and their clients. Services, already at full capacity are stretched and face a tsunami of additional pressures as the pandemic’s impact unfolds.
Issues raised included maintaining services if staff or clients are exposed to Covid-19, the problem of sourcing critical supplies, the inability of people who live in boarding or lodging houses or overcrowded homes to self-isolate, and the significant cost and resourcing implications to backfill staff who cannot work. Front and center of discussions was the concern for people who are sleeping rough, who are often unwell and those at risk of falling into homelessness.
Targeted and safe outreach services
“To flatten the curve, we need immediate support for people who experience homelessness or live in overcrowded, insecure and inappropriate housing,” said Michelle Mackenzie, CEO of Shelter WA. ‘Immediate access to housing and accommodation for people to self-isolate is critical, along with targeted, safe outreach services to people sleeping rough, who are often unwell and more at risk.”
“We are hearing that people who are experiencing homelessness are fearful, so access to good information about COVID-19 with targeted response measures including housing and service support must be provided.”
Supporting people in the casualised workforce
As the economic consequences hit, the flow on to an already stretched social housing and homelessness sector will be acute. Many people are at risk of housing insecurity as they are unable to pay bills, mortgages or rents due to circumstances beyond their control such as illness, self-isolation or job losses. There is an urgent need to support people in the casualised workforce and those on income support to ensure they do not fall into homelessness.
A C-19 response team for homelessness has been established by the homelessness services sector in partnership with Shelter WA to co-ordinate a sector response and to work with government on specific initiatives.
Rough sleepers are particularly vulnerable
Services are working hard leading measures to prevent and contain the virus, but targeted assistance is required. People experiencing homelessness, particularly those who are rough sleeping, are especially vulnerable in this outbreak, and we need to pull together to look after all people in our community.
Shelter WA along with the WA Alliance to End Homelessness and WA Council of Social Services are calling on the Federal and State Governments, to develop an urgent package of support. This includes increased outreach support, and access to testing and results for the people whom we support, urgent access to accommodation and housing to enable people to self-isolate, a moratorium on evictions, no exiting of people into homelessness, new funding for services to cover increased staffing and resource costs and access to shared clinical health expertise across the homelessness services system. Also, immediate support for people who lose their jobs to pay their rent to prevent a second wave of homelessness.
Homelessness and housing services must be recognized as critical services if we are to prevent and contain the risk of this virus spreading. Other jurisdictions have acted. We need an urgent response from government before it is too late.
Fast Facts
• Over 9,000 people experience homelessness every day across WA.
• Over 4,300 people access specialist homelessness services every day.
• Over 14,000 are on the wait list for social housing.
• Over 6,000 people who live in insecure housing are at risk of homelessness.
Media Contacts