q Opening Doors q Initial Assessment Planning IAP

q Opening Doors q Initial Assessment & Planning (IA&P) q Housing Establishment Funds (HEF) q Homelessness & Rooming Houses in Greater Dandenong q Resource Register q Main Presenting Reasons q IA & P Myths

Opening Doors The Victorian homelessness system is organised under what is called The Opening Doors Framework, also commonly referred to as ‘Opening Doors’. q In very simple terms Opening Doors aims to provide an integrated and coordinated response by having a limited number of designated access points into the homelessness system. q The purpose of these access points is to assess needs, prioritise and connect people to the services and resources they need.

Initial Assessment & Planning At the entry/access point people seeking assistance will meet with an IA&P worker who will do an assessment of their housing and support needs. Initial Assessment focuses on: q Assistance to maintain current housing q Options for housing for the night q Other immediate homelessness related needs and risks q Options for medium and long-term housing Housing Establishment Fund (HEF) IA&P staff distribute what's known as HEF—a grant program to assist eligible people.

Rooming Houses q Greater Dandenong has the highest number of people experiencing homelessness in Victoria. q Greater Dandenong also has the highest rate of housing stress in Victoria, with 21 per cent of households on a low income experiencing housing stress. q Rents in Greater Dandenong continue to rise. In 2005, 8 out of 10 rental properties were affordable for someone on income support, today 1 in 10 rentals would be affordable. Rooming Houses; q We need them, we rely on them, we need them regulated. q Historically were large-scale facilities, principally consisting of private bedrooms with shared facilities. q Now an integral part of the housing system relied on by housing referral and support agencies. q 89 registered rooming houses within Greater Dandenong. q illegally operating rooming houses. q Increased levels of compliance and standards in rooming houses.

Main Presenting Reasons q Mental Health q Substance Misuse q Family Breakdown q Affordability q Inappropriate accommodation – overcrowding q Disagreement with landlord / other residents q Dislike of current accommodation q Loss of employment q Newly arrived to area

IA & P Myths q That we have houses – we don’t q We have direct / faster access to Department of Housing properties. q We have cheaper options than what we have listed. q That we can provide unlimited / ongoing funding. q We are a material aid service. q We own or manage rooming houses. q We control who lives at rooming houses and we control the rent.