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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-11-21 Daily Xml
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COMMON GROUND FRANKLIN STREET

Ms FOX (Bright) (14:11): Can the Premier inform the chamber of the events that led to last Friday's announcement at Franklin Street bus station?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:11): I am very pleased to answer this question. I was delighted to open officially the Common Ground Franklin Street development on Friday of last week. Common Ground Franklin Street will provide, by Christmas this year, a home each for 38 previously homeless and low income people and, with three on-site support staff, the support required to keep them housed. There are not many better examples of what can be achieved through collaboration than Common Ground.

The Common Ground model differs from traditional responses to homelessness because it brings together a mix of people on low incomes and includes support services to connect residents with their community. This concept is groundbreaking because it recognises that homeless people need more than a bed to sleep in and a roof over their head. This comes back to a point a few years ago when someone said, 'Isn't homelessness really about housing?' Housing is only part of the issue. Homelessness is also to do with a whole range of things relating to poverty, unemployment, mental health issues, family breakdown, alcoholism, drug dependency and so on.

People need ready access to the support services that help them to remain in their own homes and be part of a diverse community. This stability, coupled with high-quality housing, is a vital first step towards wellbeing and acceptance as a valued community member. Members would be aware that the Common Ground concept has been inspired by a recent thinker in residence, Rosanne Haggerty, whose visit to Adelaide last year and the year before started a chain of events that led to Friday's exciting announcement. Since founding Common Ground in New York in 1990, Rosanne has been doing outstanding work in the fields of non-profit housing and community development.

I will never forget visiting Manhattan and having Rosanne show me around a once-derelict hotel that Common Ground renovated in the Times Square district. It was a place providing accommodation for the poor, homeless and those on the brink of becoming homeless. Combating homelessness was amongst the first references given to the Social Inclusion Board—a body that has been led by the dynamic and admirably impatient Monsignor David Cappo—and the adopted recommendations of which are being very ably carried out by ministers. I want to make particular mention of the Minister for Housing and Families and Communities.

The South Australian Strategic Plan target to halve the number of rough sleepers by 2010 is an ambitious target—some say too ambitious—but for too long homelessness has been placed in the too-hard basket, and this target shows just how committed we are to tackling this societal scourge. No-one would claim victory in the war against homelessness but we are making progress, and Common Ground is a significant tool in furthering that progress.

Rosanne Haggerty provided us with the concept that encouraged the people of Adelaide, governments, the community and business alike, to work together to do something to tackle the most protracted and difficult homelessness in our state. The government has provided more than $11 million to Common Ground Adelaide—$6 million to the Franklin Street development and $5 million for the Light Square building that was purchased earlier this year which will provide a further 60 formerly homeless and low income people with a home and the support to keep them housed.

With strong political commitment, a sense of goodwill from the business community and the expertise and cooperation of the community sector and the Adelaide City Council, Common Ground Adelaide has taken shape, and the Franklin Street development will, as I say, provide homes for 38 formerly homeless people.

I am very pleased that David Cappo introduced us to Rosanne Haggerty. Also, Common Ground Adelaide Chair, Theo Maras, has inspired the business community to do their bit. I want to pay particular tribute to the business leaders on the Common Ground committee and also to Sue Crafter, who has been an executive officer and doing outstanding work.

The Adelaide City Council has been most cooperative throughout the planning and development phases. Common Ground is not the silver-bullet solution to ending homelessness. We have a strong and dynamic community sector that provides vital support to those experiencing homelessness or housing difficulties and a long and proud history of innovation in housing responses in this state. What this shows is that the whole community has a role to play in ending homelessness.

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