2013 Interim Targets - The Road Home, White Paper

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To achieve the objectives in The Road Home: A national approach to reducing homelessness, the Australian Government will set interim targets to 2013.

In the report the Government states,

'these targets acknowledge that there may be modest increases in the rates of homelessness in the short-term before they begin to reduce. By 2013, the rate of homeless persons will need to be around 40 homeless persons per 10,000 population or better if we are to achieve our 2020 goal.'

The key interim targets for 2013 are:

  • Overall homelessness is reduced by 20 per cent;
  • Primary homelessness is reduced by 25 per cent; and
  • The proportion of people seeking specialist homelessness services more than three times in 12 months is reduced by 25 per cent.

To track progress, the following interim targets for 2013 will be developed with the states and territories:

  • The number of people engaged in employment and/or education/training after presenting at specialist homelessness services is increased by 50 per cent;
  • The number of people exiting care and custodial settings into homelessness is reduced by
  • 25 per cent;
  • The number of families who maintain or secure safe and sustainable housing following domestic or family violence is increased by 20 per cent;
  • The number of people exiting from social housing and private rental to homelessness is reduced by 25 per cent;
  • The number of young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with improved housing stability and engaged with family, school and work is increased by 25 per cent;
  • The number of children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness provided with additional support and engaged in education is increased by 50 per cent;
  • The number of families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness who receive financial advice, counselling and/or case management is increased by 25 per cent; and
  • The number of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness who receive legal services is increased by 25 per cent.
Download the White Paper on Homelessness - 'The Road Home'. [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 722.52 KB]

Access the full report and individual sections via the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website. 

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Another Case of Smoke and Mirrors
written by brianadr, December 21, 2008
Since I have been involved with SAAP (1983), each "so called" reform to homeless services has resulted a reduced capacity to handle existing demand. This report is again an example of this.

Again the chamerland and mackenie line on an explanation for homelessness has been accepted without any serious questioning but more a mantra.

It does not address issues associated with homelessness and lifcycle stage. Nor are the issues associated with gender and homelessness are addressed, it appears that the homeless are genderless.

The gender and lifecycle stage of the client are esential criteria in the development of reponses, yet strangely they are not mentioned.

What is not addressed as well is the lack of attention to the skills required to deliver effective services. Tokenism is not acceptable.

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