Sydney's Inner City Homelessness Action Plan Phase Two

The NSW  Government has developed a plan to address the problem of homeless people sleeping rough around inner Sydney. It came about in order to guide the Partnership Against Homelessness, a Department of Housing led initiative bringing together 12 NSW Government agencies that fund or administer programs for homeless people (established in 1999).

Phase One of the plan saw the Department of Housing establish the Homelessness Action Team Support and Outreach Service.

Other work included the Inner City Sydney Aboriginal Homeless Research Project managed by the Aboriginal Housing Office, My Place Homeless Leases Initiative managed by the Office of Community Housing and brokerage funding via the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care and the Department of Community Services.

Representatives from government and the community sector met to work out what Phase Two of the plan would look like. In terms of its scope, Phase Two is a four year plan covering the January 2007 - January 2011 period. It will include short, medium and long-term objectives and prioritise support for people with mental illness, development of effective housing and support models, early intervention for rough sleepers and a response to Aboriginal homelessness.

Further information can be found on NSW Department of Housing website: www.housing.nsw.gov.au

Source: PIAC E~Mail Bulletin No. 169 with thanks to National Tenant Support Network (National TSN)