Homeless Women

In reply to the Hon. J.S. LEE (7 May 2015).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change):

1. The National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) and the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) fund a range of specialist homelessness services, including services for women. Approximately 23 per cent of this funding is for domestic and Aboriginal family violence services.

The NPAH agreement was due to expire on 30 June 2015 and the state government has recently announced it is matching the commonwealth's commitment to continue funding for another two years from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2017. Priorities for this expenditure include services responding to domestic and family violence and services for young people.

2. The state government is seeking to deliver improved outcomes from its investment in social services, including through social impact bonds and outcome-based contracting.

The objective of any social impact investment in homelessness is to increase the effectiveness of homelessness interventions, particularly early interventions, on the premise that, over the long term, this may reduce government expenditure in other areas.

Particular outcomes for homeless people may include an increase in the sustainability of tenancies, a reduction in episodes of repeat homelessness, a reduction in hospital admissions and presentations and a reduction in justice services. These desired outcomes are positive and do not have any reference to gender.

It is important to note that, in the initial social impact bond discussion paper released in December 2013, the then Minister for Health and Ageing wrote:

'Any trials of social impact bonds in these areas would not replace or outsource existing government programs. The intended focus is new or expanded programs designed to tackle costly social problems in more innovative and effective ways.'

The government is currently assessing proposals that were submitted in response to the recent Expression of Interest and the outcome of this process will be announced in due course.

3. There are 40 government and non-government organisations providing 75 programs over 97 outlets across the state to address homelessness; 21 of these programs are specifically responding to domestic and Aboriginal family violence.

Women are able to access assistance via any of the specialist homelessness services or the 24 hour homelessness gateway telephone services. All of these services provide access to emergency and other accommodation options, referral, case management and advocacy services.