Loddon Mallee Housing Services Ltd

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Housing Services Division

The Housing Services Division (HSD) provides tailored housing responses for people who are homeless or in housing crisis. Our goal is to assist people to overcome any initial crisis and to provide the housing stability that enables clients to find a safe and sustainable home of their own.

Recognising that people need assistance at critical points in their lives and being able to co-ordinate the necessary support and services prior to a housing breakdown is a critical element in housing sustainability. The Loddon Mallee Housing Services operating model provides diverse range of vertically and horizontally integrated housing and support services to clients within the Loddon Mallee Region. This means that irrespective of where people find themselves in the housing continuum of crisis, transitional and long term housing, appropriate support services are able to be matched to client need.

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The Transitional Housing Management Program (THMP), an initiative of the Victorian Government, was introduced in 1997 and implemented major changes to how services are provided to the homeless and those in housing crisis. THMP redefined the roles and responsibilities of housing service providers and support services, represented in the main, by the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP).

The program objectives are to deliver a range of housing assistance options to individuals and families who are in housing crisis or are experiencing homelessness and to provide time limited housing solutions that enable households to work towards sustainable long term housing.

There is a network of 20 community based THMP agencies across Metropolitan and Regional Victoria that work with clients of the homelessness sector in conjunction with support agencies.

The program consists of three main components:

Housing Information and Referral
Crisis Housing
Transitional Housing

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Housing Information and Referral (HIR) is a readily accessible access point into the homelessness service system. Skilled professional staff are able to provide a responsive service to clients who may require information or advocacy, to address or improve the long term sustainability of their housing circumstance or an immediate response to a housing crisis or homelessness.

Housing Information and referral points can immediately offer information and advice on housing related issues, provide appropriate referrals to other services to address identified needs or to access support services and administer financial assistance to eligible clients from the Housing Establishment Fund (HEF).

HEF is a limited financial resource that may be provided to purchase emergency accommodation, provide rent in advance, assist with rental arrears or other housing related issues in accordance with the Governments policy and guidelines that determine the application of this product.

HIR is delivered in the Loddon Mallee Region through service centres at:

Bendigo (Client centre)
Mildura
Swan Hill

All other locations within the Loddon Mallee Region have either; a visiting outreach service or an arrangement has been made with a local community based service provider to facilitate assistance for homelessness sector clients.

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Crisis Housing is short term (maximum 14 days) option for clients in housing crisis. Access to any of the 13 fully furnished crisis units is gained through a nominated support agency in each location. Crisis housing is available in:

Bendigo (5)
Echuca (2)
Kyneton (1)
Maryborough (1)
Mildura (2)
Swan Hill (2)

Transitional Housing provides interim accommodation for people who are absolutely homeless or facing homelessness. Access to transitional housing is decided by HSD property managers from a pool of potential of tenants, drawn primarily from nominations made by support agencies, for clients who urgently require housing stability. Properties are allocated utilising a needs base framework, which sees the person most in need being able to secure an available vacancy.

The program focuses on four broad client groups; young people (under 25), women & children escaping domestic violence, people addressing their alcohol and drug use, and a general client group experiencing housing difficulties.

HSD working collaboratively with SAAP and other support services throughout the tenancy, as part of an integrated approach to resolving the long-term housing and support needs of people confronting or experiencing homelessness, has the objective of securing a sustainable long term housing option for its tenants as an outcome of the transitional housing tenancy. The average stay in transitional housing is currently 6 to 9 months.

Loddon Mallee Housing Services manages 178 Transitional housing Properties across the Loddon Mallee Region. Properties are located in:

Bendigo, Echuca, Castlemaine, Kyneton, Maryborough, Woodend, Romsey, Macedon, Kyabram, Mildura, Robinvale, Swan Hill, Kerang, and Donald

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Partnerships

The HSD Transitional Housing Management Program has established partnerships with the Department of Human Services (DHS), SAAP and other services to provide initiatives that aim to specifically resolve housing crisis experienced by individuals and families in specific target groups. Examples of what are known as “joined up solutions” include housing programs that make co-ordinated housing and support available to those experiencing:

Drug & Alcohol Issues
Family and Domestic Violence
Youth Homelessness
Prison Release and Young Offenders
Indigenous Homelessness
Mental Health Issues
Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (Refugee’s) Homelessness
Young people leaving State care

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Long Term Housing

Interim Long Term Housing program (ILT) provides affordable long term housing to low income households within our communities. This social housing program is available to a diverse range of people and provides the opportunity for the development of strong and diverse communities.

Affordable Housing Association (AHA) is the latest initiative of the Victorian Government delivering affordable long term housing for low to moderate income households. The program delivers a greater choice and diversity of affordable housing to a broader range tenants than existing Public and Social housing programs. HSD provides the tenancy and property management services for this new housing program. For further information please visit our AHA Website.

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"...I think the homeless problem is a lot bigger than a lot of people think..."

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Home Housing Services Community Services Assertive Outreach Corporate & Board Homeless Employment UN Visit to Bendigo International Projects Innovation/Research Saver Plus Media	Housing Services Division The Housing Services Division (HSD) provides tailored housing responses for people who are homeless or in housing crisis. Our goal is to assist people to overcome any initial crisis and to provide the housing stability that enables clients to find a safe and sustainable home of their own. Recognising that people need assistance at critical points in their lives and being able to co-ordinate the necessary support and services prior to a housing breakdown is a critical element in housing sustainability. The Loddon Mallee Housing Services operating model provides diverse range of vertically and horizontally integrated housing and support services to clients within the Loddon Mallee Region. This means that irrespective of where people find themselves in the housing continuum of crisis, transitional and long term housing, appropriate support services are able to be matched to client need. Top The Transitional Housing Management Program (THMP), an initiative of the Victorian Government, was introduced in 1997 and implemented major changes to how services are provided to the homeless and those in housing crisis. THMP redefined the roles and responsibilities of housing service providers and support services, represented in the main, by the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP). The program objectives are to deliver a range of housing assistance options to individuals and families who are in housing crisis or are experiencing homelessness and to provide time limited housing solutions that enable households to work towards sustainable long term housing. There is a network of 20 community based THMP agencies across Metropolitan and Regional Victoria that work with clients of the homelessness sector in conjunction with support agencies. The program consists of three main components: Housing Information and Referral Crisis Housing Transitional Housing Top Housing Information and Referral (HIR) is a readily accessible access point into the homelessness service system. Skilled professional staff are able to provide a responsive service to clients who may require information or advocacy, to address or improve the long term sustainability of their housing circumstance or an immediate response to a housing crisis or homelessness. Housing Information and referral points can immediately offer information and advice on housing related issues, provide appropriate referrals to other services to address identified needs or to access support services and administer financial assistance to eligible clients from the Housing Establishment Fund (HEF). HEF is a limited financial resource that may be provided to purchase emergency accommodation, provide rent in advance, assist with rental arrears or other housing related issues in accordance with the Governments policy and guidelines that determine the application of this product. HIR is delivered in the Loddon Mallee Region through service centres at: Bendigo (Client centre) Mildura Swan Hill All other locations within the Loddon Mallee Region have either; a visiting outreach service or an arrangement has been made with a local community based service provider to facilitate assistance for homelessness sector clients. Top Crisis Housing is short term (maximum 14 days) option for clients in housing crisis. Access to any of the 13 fully furnished crisis units is gained through a nominated support agency in each location. Crisis housing is available in: Bendigo (5) Echuca (2) Kyneton (1) Maryborough (1) Mildura (2) Swan Hill (2) Transitional Housing provides interim accommodation for people who are absolutely homeless or facing homelessness. Access to transitional housing is decided by HSD property managers from a pool of potential of tenants, drawn primarily from nominations made by support agencies, for clients who urgently require housing stability. Properties are allocated utilising a needs base framework, which sees the person most in need being able to secure an available vacancy. The program focuses on four broad client groups; young people (under 25), women & children escaping domestic violence, people addressing their alcohol and drug use, and a general client group experiencing housing difficulties. HSD working collaboratively with SAAP and other support services throughout the tenancy, as part of an integrated approach to resolving the long-term housing and support needs of people confronting or experiencing homelessness, has the objective of securing a sustainable long term housing option for its tenants as an outcome of the transitional housing tenancy. The average stay in transitional housing is currently 6 to 9 months. Loddon Mallee Housing Services manages 178 Transitional housing Properties across the Loddon Mallee Region. Properties are located in: Bendigo, Echuca, Castlemaine, Kyneton, Maryborough, Woodend, Romsey, Macedon, Kyabram, Mildura, Robinvale, Swan Hill, Kerang, and Donald Top Partnerships The HSD Transitional Housing Management Program has established partnerships with the Department of Human Services (DHS), SAAP and other services to provide initiatives that aim to specifically resolve housing crisis experienced by individuals and families in specific target groups. Examples of what are known as “joined up solutions” include housing programs that make co-ordinated housing and support available to those experiencing: Drug & Alcohol Issues Family and Domestic Violence Youth Homelessness Prison Release and Young Offenders Indigenous Homelessness Mental Health Issues Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (Refugee’s) Homelessness Young people leaving State care Top Long Term Housing Interim Long Term Housing program (ILT) provides affordable long term housing to low income households within our communities. This social housing program is available to a diverse range of people and provides the opportunity for the development of strong and diverse communities. Affordable Housing Association (AHA) is the latest initiative of the Victorian Government delivering affordable long term housing for low to moderate income households. The program delivers a greater choice and diversity of affordable housing to a broader range tenants than existing Public and Social housing programs. HSD provides the tenancy and property management services for this new housing program. For further information please visit our AHA Website. Top	"...I think the homeless problem is a lot bigger than a lot of people think..."
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