Investigating the Role That Trauma Plays in Long-Term Homelessness [20.12.2011]

The Trust has made a grant of $107,850 to Sacred Heart Mission for a joint research project with three other agencies – MIND Australia, Inner South Community Health and VincentCare Victoria – to undertake a two-year academic study in the area of long-term homelessness and trauma.

Guided by their front line experience, each organisation has developed an interest in the role that trauma plays in the lives of people who experience long-term homelessness and have a range of mental health issues. The project is seen as pivotal to bringing about change to the service system that will ultimately result in improved health and wellbeing outcomes for a highly vulnerable group of people in our community.

The four agencies, which provide mental health and homelessness services, are collaborating on this project in recognition of the shared need to improve outcomes for this extremely disadvantaged group of individuals in the community. The research will address two key questions: “What is the nature of the relationship between traumatic events and homelessness?” and, “What should trauma-informed interventions/service responses look like?"

Ultimately, the aim is to implement a new service paradigm that is evidence-based, reflects best-practice models of service delivery and responds in a more effective and targeted way to the needs of this group. The longer-term aim is to end the recurring episodes of homelessness in their lives.