House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Answers to Questions Answers to Questions Mental Health Services MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Mr HANNA House of Assembly Mitchell MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 36 Mr HANNA (Mitchell) (30 September 2008). What are the government's plans for extra accommodation for young people with mental health issues? The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly Wright Minister for Families and Communities Minister for Northern Suburbs Minister for Housing Minister for Ageing Minister for Disability MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Northern Suburbs, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability): I provide the following information: A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department for Families and Communities, Housing SA and Mental Health Services in South Australia has been developed and operational since October 2007. The objective of the MOU is to guide the development and management of collaborative working practices to improve accessible and sustainable housing outcomes for people with mental illness. The government recognises that issues of supply and suitability of supported accommodation places for young people with mental health issues are critically important. To this end, as part of our commitment to the re-development of the Glenside Campus, 40 supported accommodation beds will be made available for mental health clients, including young people, over the next two to three years. We have also committed to increasing the number of disability housing program places by 200 by the year 2010. As at October 2008, the Supported Tenancies Scheme of the Disability Housing Program has 273 properties. The government has in place ten Supported Accommodation Demonstration Projects (SADP) for people aged eighteen years and over with a psychiatric disability and complex needs, who are assessed as requiring disability support to establish and maintain independent living. For Aboriginal people, the age range is 15-25 years. Through the Crisis Accommodation Program, a property is being redeveloped as a 'Muggys in the South', which will provide intensive supported accommodation respite for young people under the Guardianship of the Minister. Discussions are currently underway with St Johns Youth Services, the youth crisis accommodation agency, to plan the relocation and upgrade of Burdekin and Chisholm Place. The re-development will enable the service to provide high quality accommodation for homeless young men and women, many of whom will have complex and challenging issues, including mental health issues. In the national context, in late 2009 the Commonwealth Government announced plans for a major overhaul of Commonwealth-State housing arrangements and the Premier signed a National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness with the Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd. This Agreement recognises that a reduction in homelessness requires targeting key groups, including children and young people. Priorities for services delivered under this Agreement will include: Services to assist young people with mental health issues to secure or maintain stable accommodation, and Support for young people aged twelve to eighteen years who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, to re-engage with their family where it is safe to do so, maintain sustainable accommodation and engagement with education and employment.