HomeGround Services
Encyclopedia
HomeGround Services is a homelessness
, housing and support agency working to end homelessness in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is part of the Australian Common Ground Alliance, which is affiliated with Common Ground (NYC)
. HomeGround Services has offices based in Collingwood, Victoria
; Preston, Victoria
; St Kilda, Victoria
; Prahran, Victoria
; and at Elizabeth Street Common Ground in the CBD.
HomeGround Services’ vision to work towards ending homelessness in Melbourne coincides with recent federal and state progress in this direction. The Australian Government has released its White Paper on Homelessness, which includes targets for reducing the number of people who are homeless, and the Victorian Government committed to a new Victorian Homelessness Strategy. However, a number of factors continue to contribute to homelessness including:
Its services include:
HomeGround Services is a partner in the Elizabeth Street Common Ground (Melbourne, Australia)
supportive housing project that will deliver more than 131 homes based on the Common Ground model in Elizabeth Street, central Melbourne in October 2010. HomeGround Services will provide the associated health, training, support and employment services to be located on the site.
In 2009 HomeGround Services joined with 40 other organizations in Call this a home? campaign for safe rooming houses
in Victoria, advocating for reform of Victoria’s private rooming house sector.
HomeGround Services won the tender for Victoria's Melbourne Street to Home program in partnership with The Salvation Army and working with the Royal District Nursing Service. Melbourne Street to Home is another key model from the Federal White Paper on Homelessness. It has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MS2HFB and Twitter at www.twitter.com/_MS2H
HomeGround Services is a Registered Housing Provider and also accredited with the Quality Improvement Council; Homeless Assistance and Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support standards.
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
, housing and support agency working to end homelessness in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is part of the Australian Common Ground Alliance, which is affiliated with Common Ground (NYC)
Common Ground (NYC)
Common Ground is a nonprofit social services organization with the goal of creating high-quality permanent and transitional housing for the homeless...
. HomeGround Services has offices based in Collingwood, Victoria
Collingwood, Victoria
Collingwood is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
; Preston, Victoria
Preston, Victoria
Preston is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Preston had a population of 27,892.-Settlement:...
; St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
; Prahran, Victoria
Prahran, Victoria
Prahran , also known colloquially as "Pran", is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 5 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stonnington. At the 2006 Census, Prahran had a population of 10,651. It is a part of Melbourne with...
; and at Elizabeth Street Common Ground in the CBD.
History
HomeGround Services was formed in December 2002 from the merger of two like-minded organizations to combine the housing experience of Argyle Street Housing and the support and outreach experience of Outreach Victoria.HomeGround Services’ vision to work towards ending homelessness in Melbourne coincides with recent federal and state progress in this direction. The Australian Government has released its White Paper on Homelessness, which includes targets for reducing the number of people who are homeless, and the Victorian Government committed to a new Victorian Homelessness Strategy. However, a number of factors continue to contribute to homelessness including:
- Housing affordability.
- Family and other crises.
- A limited supply of, and poor access to, affordable and supportive housing.
Clients
HomeGround Services works with a diverse range of clients including those referred from mainstream health organizations, the mental health sector, criminal justice, child protection and others. Its practices, approaches and models in dealing with its clients are based on international best practice on homelessness.HomeGround Services client numbers
Annually, HomeGround Services provides:- Assistance to 9000 homeless households in crisis or at risk of homelessness to find shelter and long-term housing.
- Management of around 330 transitional housing properties.
- Support to more than 700 public housing households in order to prevent eviction.
Activities
HomeGround Services works in the areas of homelessness, housing, support services and social change advocacy.Its services include:
- Crisis housing advice service (Initial Assessment and Planning)
- Housing Outreach Worker program
- Justice Housing Support Program
- Mental health programs including ConnectED and the Housing Mental Health Pathways Program
- Outreach programs
- Private Rental Access Program
- Private Rental Management Program
- Social Housing Advocacy and Support Program
- Supportive Housing Development
- Tenancy and Property program
- Advocacy
HomeGround Services is a partner in the Elizabeth Street Common Ground (Melbourne, Australia)
Elizabeth Street Common Ground (Melbourne, Australia)
Elizabeth Street Common Ground Supportive Housing in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia is a supportive housing project that will provide 161 individuals and families with homes in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne by September 2010....
supportive housing project that will deliver more than 131 homes based on the Common Ground model in Elizabeth Street, central Melbourne in October 2010. HomeGround Services will provide the associated health, training, support and employment services to be located on the site.
In 2009 HomeGround Services joined with 40 other organizations in Call this a home? campaign for safe rooming houses
Call this a home? campaign for safe rooming houses
In 2009, 40 organisations in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, launched the Call this a home? Campaign for safe rooming houses in Victoria, to seek reform of the private rooming house market....
in Victoria, advocating for reform of Victoria’s private rooming house sector.
HomeGround Services won the tender for Victoria's Melbourne Street to Home program in partnership with The Salvation Army and working with the Royal District Nursing Service. Melbourne Street to Home is another key model from the Federal White Paper on Homelessness. It has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MS2HFB and Twitter at www.twitter.com/_MS2H
HomeGround Services is a Registered Housing Provider and also accredited with the Quality Improvement Council; Homeless Assistance and Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support standards.
See also
- Housing Commission of VictoriaHousing Commission of VictoriaThe Housing Commission of Victoria was a State Government body responsible for public housing in Victoria, Australia...
- Homelessness in AustraliaHomelessness in AustraliaThis article describes homelessness in Australia. The majority of long term homeless people are found in the large cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane...
- Supported Accommodation Assistance ProgramSupported Accommodation Assistance ProgramThe Supported Accommodation Assistance Program is aimed at reducing homelessness in Australia. SAAP started in 1985 when Commonwealth and State/Territory funding programs were brought together. The object of the new arrangement was to grant financial assistance to the States to administer the SAAP...