A practical targeted education program develops resilience to prevent homelessness
Rental prices are increasing, and there is decreased availability of public housing. As a result, people on low incomes are being encouraged to access private rentals which are increasingly unaffordable. Keeping Home aims to build capacity in disadvantaged regional Victorians to manage a tenancy on a low income by focusing on budgeting, financial resilience, tenancy legislation and living-skills – all drivers of recurring homelessness.
“Offering this specialised and very targeted program to people on low incomes will assist them to secure and maintain their housing on their own. Unlike other existing programs, this will link directly to tenancies and housing.” Linda Grellman, Hume Region Homeless Networker.
BeyondHousing provides support, housing and advocacy for people at risk of homelessness and those in private rental experiencing housing stress. Keeping Home will build financial and rental capacity and resilience in regional Victorians. The goal of this practical, hands-on program is to equip people who are at risk of becoming or have been homeless with the skills to break the cycle and maintain their housing in the future.
Snapshot:
- Keeping Home brings together three different programs covering financial resilience and budgeting, tenancy rights and responsibilities, and living skills in a coordinated early intervention package.
- It draws on existing resources and will develop additional materials as required with a focus on maintaining housing on a low income in rural and regional areas.
- Each component will have a suite of materials, activities, learning modules and online interface that is specifically tailored to support people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
- Recognising that many of BeyondHousing’s clients may have poor literacy and minimal access to the internet, content will be explained and delivered in person in a series of one-on-one and group sessions.
- All service delivery staff will be trained to deliver the modules and include the content in their existing processes, making ongoing provision sustainable.
- Beyond Housing is collaborating closely with a number of stakeholders including Beechworth Correctional Centre which will facilitate the delivery of all modules to pre-release prisoners and assist in content development, and Centre Against Violence which is assisting with content, program referral and facilitation of group focus sessions as appropriate.
- Local key real estate agents have agreed to promote active and positive engagement with prospective and existing landlords.