Community Consultations on the 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness

Broome (West Kimberley) Report

The Broome Community Consultation was held on Tuesday, 25 September at the Broome Lotteries House. 14 people from 11 local organisations attend the consultation. Participants were from a mix of government agencies, community sector organisations and local government and included one individual with lived experience of homelessness.

The overall lack of housing stock in Broome was cited as a key driver of homelessness in the region, as well as a lack of diversity in the way houses were designed. Discrimination in accessing housing in the private rental market was also raised. Participants were deeply concerned about the prevalence of drugs and alcohol in the community. Participants believed that when individuals or families are placed in public housing, they require culturally appropriate, intensive support to help them maintain a home and be financially stable.

Participants felt strongly that a regional action plan for Broome and the West Kimberley should be developed to sit underneath the 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness, and that this would give them the opportunity to set a vision statement that reflects local priorities.

On Wednesday, 26 September a small, informal session was held at the Mamabulanjin Aboriginal Corporation with a group of approximately nine Aboriginal people who participate in the Artists Tree project. Many of these individuals nominated the community of Balgo as their home and were either sleeping rough or staying with extended family in overcrowded dwellings while in Broome to visit family or access services. The outcomes of this consultation are summarised below; due to the unstructured nature of the conversations comments have not been not included in the analysis of the Broome Community Consultation.

Individuals felt the lack of accommodation options for people visiting Broome from remote communities was behind much of the town’s homelessness. While the new short stay facility may relieve some of these pressures when it opens, many Aboriginal people visiting Broome will be ineligible to use the facility if they are required to show that they are in town for medical or other limited reasons. There was also concern that the purpose of the facility may not have been adequately communicated and that some in the community

1

may be under the misapprehension that it would deliver them permanent housing. People felt strongly that what was missing was a managed facility (similar to a caravan park) where they could camp while they are in town and fulfil their cultural obligations.

When asked about what their community needed to respond to homelessness participants simply said that they wanted solutions that had been shown to work, but they expressed frustration that in the past, successful programs had been scrapped, changed or de-funded. Changes to the Commonwealth’s CDEP program were cited as one example of this. Lengthy and overly complex government forms were nominated as a key barrier to accessing the services that can help people maintain their housing, such as concessional rates for utilities and in-home aged care services.

Participants were concerned about the closure of Kennedy Hill and other town based reserves and where displaced people would be housed given there is already a long wait for public housing. It was noted that when people are given public housing they often require intensive support to maintain their tenancy and existing housing support workers are already stretched to provide the level of assistance needed.

2

About the Consultation Reports

To help analyse the information received from participants during the consultation process we have grouped comments into three themes:

Systems and Policy - Comments relating to government policies and whole-of-system response to homelessness e.g. State government departments (Health, Mental Health) and Commonwealth departments (Centrelink).

Practice and Programs - Comments relating to day to day service delivery (practice) and the programs that support the practice (e.g. tenancy support).

Cohort Needs - Comments relating to the needs of particular cohort.

In many cases the total number of comments received for a question does not match the number of attendees at the consultation. This is because for Parts 1 and 2 participants were asked to provide their responses in groups, rather than individually. For Part 3 participants were able to select whether or not to respond to a question and were able to provide more than one comment or idea per question if they wished to do so.

3

Part 1: Discovering community needs In the first part of the session respondents were asked a series of questions about homelessness in their community, including what services are needed and what are the barriers to accessing help.

Question 1: What specific needs do people in your community have in terms of having a safe and secure home?

30 comments received:

24 comments relating to practice and programs. A large portion of these were focused on case management and long-term support

4 comments focusing specifically on types of housing, housing stock needs and supported and crisis accommodation

3 comments regarding the need for services tailored to the seasonality of Broome and the Kimberley region

Summary of comments by theme

13%

84%

3%

Systems & Policy Practice & Programs Cohort Needs

Figure 1: Comments from the Broome community in response to question 1 broken down by theme.

Systems and Policy – 13%

Funding and housing stock were identified as areas of need. Homelessness in Broome has a context, where people have homes in their communities but travel to Broome for a variety of reasons and do not have access to adequate housing. Food security was also discussed as a need and services tailored to the Broome community were recommended.

4

Practice and Programs – 84%Participants focused their discussion on practice and programs. Support and advocacy that empowered people were cited as the largest drivers of safety and security in the region.

A need for follow up and long-term support and case management was also discussed, as was the seasonality of Broome. Referred to as the "Broome Factor", participants described that Broome-specific and Kimberley-specific solutions are required for this region. These must take into account the transient and seasonal flows of people into the area.

Other comments relating to practice and programs included:

Consider the impact of the closure of One Mile People need direction and drive Homelessness is not just an issue that affects Aboriginal people

Cohort Needs – 3%

Aboriginal people - Cohort specific discussion focused mainly on Aboriginal Communities and the need for interpreters for people coming to Broome.

5

Question 2: How can we support people to feel connected to their local community?

21 comments received:

16 comments relating to practice and programs 4 comments focusing on types of housing, access to transport, and resourcing

support services appropriately 4 comments regarding educating the community and government on the services in

the area and creating consistency between services

Summary of comments by theme

19%

76%

5%

Systems & Policy Practice & Programs Cohort Needs

Figure 2: Comments from the Broome community in response to question 2 broken down by theme.

Systems and Policy – 19%

Transport systems and the distance between communities were discussed as particular barriers. A need for long-term hostel accommodation was cited as a need. Participants also discussed the difficulty of properly resourcing support services. For example, accommodation for support workers is not always available. There is a need to properly plan systems for resourcing services. Lastly, smaller communities do not have system or service supports.

Practice and Programs – 76%Most of the feedback related to ensuring that services and practice are specifically tailored to the needs of Broome and need to consider Broome's climate, geography and demographics. Flexibility in services was cited as a need, with lack of consistency being discussed as a barrier. The distance between communities and services were shown to have an impact on connection and it was identified that acknowledgment of these distances is a requirement for the success of future services.

6

Educating the community and Government regarding which services are available was also referenced. There is an opportunity to provide communication to the community regarding which services are available and how can they help. This will also assist with role clarity among providers.

In terms of the experiences of people, it was mentioned that they needed to be listened to and respected in order to feel valued and that individualised, long-term, wrap-around supports for high needs clients would be ideal.

Cohort Needs – 5%

Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) - Rehabilitation workers are needed within communities and close to people needing them, not in town. This is so people aren't expected to travel 90km between communities to access a service or provide it.

7

Question 3: What strategies can we use to support people to maintain their independence?

18 comments received:

12 comments relating to the types of practice and programs in the region 4 comments calling for leadership and coordination of services in the region and a

need for an action plan with timelines 2 comments focusing on the need for cultural awareness training and rehabilitation

services for specific cohorts

Summary of comments by theme

28%

61%

11%

Systems & Policy Practice & Programs Cohort Needs

Figure 3: Comments from the Broome community in response to question 3 broken down by theme.

Systems and Policy – 28%

More economic development from social development was discussed as a system that could be improved. Also, place-based responses led through the District Leadership Groups (DLGs).

Financial support to access programs is a need as well as the provision of transport between communities. Participants requested that government and services look more closely at the drivers of homelessness in the region and how it works on the ground.

Practice and Programs – 61%

Most comments related to the specific types of services and programs needed in the region. These related mostly to long-term support services as well as mentoring and home-making skills.

A large portion of discussion related to the need for leadership in the region so that appropriate action plans, outcomes and a timeline could be developed and appropriately

8

managed. Co-ordination of services across the different communities could be part of this. A need for innovation was also discussed.

An emphasis was put on the need for a strategy that focused on the unique needs of the region due to the specific seasonal and distance requirements in the area.

Cohort Needs – 19%

Aboriginal people - Cohort needs around rehabilitation services for Aboriginal people in their own communities were cited as ways to promote independence. Further, cultural awareness training for government and support agencies was identified as a need.

9

Question 4: What are the barriers to people accessing support in your community?

33 comments received:

23 comments citing barriers in government systems, lack of employment options, lack of rental stock and lack of staff

4 comments describing poor community attitudes and perceptions, racism and lack of respect as a barrier

3 comments regarding poor education and literacy levels 2 comments focusing the seasonal nature of the region and tourism

Summary of comments by theme

69%

30%1%

Systems & Policy Practice & Programs Cohort Needs

Figure 4: Comments from the Broome community in response to question 4 broken down by theme.

Systems and Policy – 69%

A lack of affordable housing and rental stock was cited as a driver for homelessness in the area, further impacted by racism within the rental market and poor housing design that does not suit the needs of the people and their families. The lack of transport between communities also prevents people from travelling to the support they need.

Employment and training opportunities are scarce in the region, with poor literacy levels creating a long-term barrier for people accessing support. This also impacts their ability to use technology such as MyGov. Further barriers such as a need for identification to utilise services and a general lack of understanding of systems only serves to entrench homelessness.

Services cited that there is a difficulty in recruiting staff for communities, partly driven by the lack of housing for locals and key workers during the tourist season.

10

Funding was mentioned many times, with comments noting that resources have been static or are shrinking. Further frustration has arisen through onerous reporting mechanisms and constant consultation with little action. There was a call for the Commonwealth to take more responsibility for homelessness.

Practice and Programs – 30%

Financial barriers were discussed, including financial abuse coupled with the cost of living in the area. Silos in the community were also identified as a barrier, further aggravated by the distances between communities and the seasonal environment.

A general lack of respect and poor attitudes and perceptions were mentioned, quoting that people in Broome usually thought "Aboriginal people can stay with family". As a result, a true vision of the community needs to be communicated.

Cohort Needs - 1%

Aboriginal people and people with a disability - Cohort specific discussion was centred on the Stolen Generation as well as the lack of rentals for people living with a Disability.

11

Part 2: What is working well and what needs to change?In the second part of the session respondents were asked to list the strengths in their communities, focusing on strengths relating to existing services. They were then asked to provide suggestions for improvement for each of the strengths that had been identified.

Strengths in Practice and Programs

Strengths in this region related to the good management and flexibility of services as well as appropriate follow up with people accessing services. Hand-in-hand intensive wrap-around support was said to be available as well as the ability to identify other supports that suited the needs of the person. Strong partnerships were also cited as a strength in Broome with services well known and promoted in the community. There are also safe places for women in the community, with the refuge and library cited as a strength.

There is a strong provision of food to people in the homeless community as well as good health services working with other services to reach clients.

The "Return to Country Program" and the work done by Centacare and Mumabulanjin to make it sustainable was singled out as a good example of services in the region. "Kularri: Family Connections" was also identified as having good local knowledge and family connections.

Participants reported that it is currently the right environment for change in the region, with the DLG model for East and West Kimberley and support to look at place-based approaches being discussed.

Suggested improvements for Practice and Programs

A need for increased staffing and resources was cited as a way to improve practice and services in the area. It was noted that current staffing levels created the need for teams to go above and beyond the requirements and responsibilities of their role, leading to staff burnout. Staff protection and mental health support is, therefore, an area for improvement and it was suggested that there be proper coordination of volunteers so that they can fill needs and gaps and support staff.

While there are some strong partnerships, participants agreed that there is a need for agencies to work together and perhaps create a one-stop service hub.

12

An opportunity exists to conduct an analysis of all service providers in the Kimberley to identify duplication and gaps and assess effectiveness and required changes. Services that focus on empowering people and that help them make improvements to their lives were identified as a gap and it was suggested that the Homelessness Action Group is reinvigorated.

Strengths in Systems and Policy

A key strength identified in the region is that the four Kimberley Local Government Associations are working together to form a consistent approach to alcohol management. This is a formal arrangement throughout the Kimberley.

A range of suggested improvements was more the focus of this theme.

Suggested Improvements for Systems and Policy

Lack of collaboration between government departments was identified as a barrier in this region and it was suggested that they need to explore ways to bring government agencies together. This includes Centrelink. Comments around the need for Government to be more open, flexible and ready for change and to listen to community members.

There is also a need for adequate, long-term funding and resources to services in the area. This includes increased funding for housing, staff, resources and service capacity. Emergency and short-stay accommodation is also a requirement.

Continued discussion on the need for a region-specific strategy mentioned that there is an opportunity to build on the previous West Kimberley Homelessness Plan.

There was a call for effective reporting and data from funded services with rigorous reports to make services more accountable so that there was value for money.

Lastly, improvements regarding communication and outreach was discussed.

Strengths by Cohort

Aboriginal people - Cohort strengths discussed were around the provision of culturally appropriate services to the community. There is also a range of cross-cultural partnerships in the region, creating good quality services for people in need.

Women - Safe places for women were mentioned as a strength, with women being able to access the refuge for shelter and people generally being able to access the library for daytime shelter.

13

Suggested Improvements by Cohort

Women - Suggested improvements to the women’s refuge included ensuring appropriate connection with clients, increased safety, providing advocacy and the need for increased resources.

14

Part 3: Big ideas for the Strategy The final part of the session was focused on generating ‘big ideas’. Participants were asked to provide answers to the following questions:

What would be bigger and bolder than anything we have done before? What solution would you come up with if you couldn’t hear any objections people

may raise? What can we do that is completely opposite of what is expected? What would you do if there were no rules?

Unlike other regions, participants in Broome were not asked to identify two goals that they thought the Strategy should focus due to a lack of time.

Below are all of the big ideas grouped by theme:

Big Ideas for Practice and Programs

Allow the local community to set the visions, values and goals for our town and remote communities instead of them being designed by politicians and government leaders who live elsewhere.

Allow the community members to have a say in the type of housing they would be happy to live in and be able to call ‘home’.

Change our thinking (“think outside the box”).

Ask the people themselves what they want/how their home is built, after all they know the wind/seasons/sun etc. What you may think is good to them is no use to them.

Allow the community to make their own rules!

Let the people decide, they know what they want.

Big Ideas for Systems and Policy

Specific regional Homelessness Plan for Broome.

Get rid of people who are in the jobs for the money and benefits. Don’t advertise income when jobs are being advertised.

Scrap the current system and start again – look to successful systems that

are in place in some countries i.e. Scandinavia and the Netherlands.

Build long term hostels and not short stay accommodation.

We need radical thinkers in Government.

Ban certain individuals from staying in town if guilty of undesirable behaviour.

15

Develop a Regional Homelessness Plan (or Strategy) for Broome.

Transient Camp designed and built to accommodate itinerant persons visiting Broome with limited rules and restrictions to allow for cultural/family obligations.

Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) to allow for persons to return to community and not leave them stranded in town.

Develop and implement a place-based action plan to address transience/ homelessness in Broome and the Kimberley.

Identify immediate and short-term actions to address current issues in Broome and Kimberley.

Identify a lead agency to drive the delivery of actions to address current issues.

Spend more funding on supported accommodation.

Build non-conventional housing with outdoor kitchens, large living rooms, small bedrooms. Multi-family capsules on one block.

Build a fully supported campsite – central allocation block – no glass – security – “Common Ground” Model (Melbourne Homeless Accommodation).

Big Ideas for Cohorts

Youth hostels – long stay, mentors, full support.

The Step Up Step Down mental health accommodation would have been built on the land it was originally allocated.

Prisoner release programs should not release people to Broome if that is not their home community.

More supported accommodation for young disabled people so they do not have to reside in an aged care facility.

16