NT Shelter is sponsored by the Northern Territory Government through the Department of Housing

November 2014 This is our fi rst E-Magazine!NT Shelter’s E-Magazine will replace our quarterly hard copy Newsle er.

You can opt-in to con nue to receive a hard copy in the mail by contac ng eo@ntshelter.org.au

We have fi ngers crossed that it will all work properly, especially all the hyperlinks in the document.

Any feedback is welcome.

In this edi on;Page 2 Report back from 8th Na onal Homelessness Conference

Page 4 Venture Housing

Page 5 Central Australian Aff ordable Housing

Page 6 Na onal Shelter: Housing and Federalism - Is it me to change direc on?

Page 8 Australasian Housing Ins tute (AHI)

Page 9 Overview of NT Shelter’s 2015/16 Pre-Budget Submission to the NT Government

Page 10 Homelessness Policy Offi cer

Page 13 Financing through Social Benefi t Bonds

Page 14 Central Australian Policy Offi cer

Page 16 Na onal Industry Body for Community Housing Update & FAQs

Page 18 Events and Research

Page 19 NT Shelter contacts

NT Shelter’s 18th AGM was held on Thursday 4th September 2014

These are our Board members for 2014/15;Execu ve:President; Jean Ah Chee (Mission Aust Alice Springs)Vice President; Mike Byrne (St Vincent de Paul)Secretary; Nina Lemos (YWCA of Darwin)Treasurer; Tony Willits (Medicare Local)Ordinary Board Members;Georgina Bracken (Tennant Creek Womens Refuge)Jayne Lloyd (CatholicCare NT)Leigh Woolcock (Anglicare NT Central Aust)Peter Wood (Salva on Army NT)Colin Tidswell (Yilli Rreung Housing Aboriginal Corp)Hal Bisset (Central Aust Aff ordable Housing)

James Pilkington (Larrakia Na on)

NT Shelter Membership

Our members are very important to us so that we hear your voice and your concerns about housing issues in the Territory.

If you are not a member and would like to sign-up lease complete the membership form/tax invoice which can be found on our website.

To make sure we connect with all staff please add email addresses of everyone in your organisa on who may wish to be included on our mailing list.

Please return your completed membership form to NT Shelter along with your payment details. If you have any queries, don’t hesitate to contact Toni Vine Bromley at eo@ntshelter.org.au

Housing & Homelessness

E-Magazine

Hosted by Homelessness Australia, the 2014 Na onal Homelessness Conference a racted 500 par cipants from around Australia and provided interna onal and Australian informa on, research, knowledge, stories and experience through various presenta ons and workshops.

The Conference highlights included the interna onal, key-note speakers, from Canada, the UK and the USA, as well as the presenta on on Australian Aboriginal spiritual homelessness. The sessions were inspiring and insigh ul with proven methods for addressing and understanding homelessness.

Dr Stephen Gaetz, Director of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness presented on the Canadian response to homelessness and discussed Housing First models.

The ini al Canadian response to homelessness was described as focusing mainly on emergency response with some preven on and increased housing to support this. The huge expense involved with emergency response was explored and a model focusing on preven on and increasing housing with some emergency response was introduced as a more cost eff ec ve and sustainable response. The need for homelessness response to intersect with all levels of government and for governmental departments to work holis cally was highlighted as fundamental for success as homelessness is fusion policy issue.

Housing First was introduced in Canada when response moved from managing homelessness towards ending homelessness and incorporate planned approaches, systems integra on, using research and data as well as community engagement. There is now a large amount of evidence that shows Housing First is working in Canada to end homelessness with 80-90% of Housing First clients s ll housed a er 12 months and savings of $21.72 for every $10 invested for the top 10% of clients with the highest needs. A conceptual Housing First framework for preven ng youth homelessness was introduced and the report is available for download at www.homelesshub.ca/housingfi rstyouth.

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Colin Falconer, Director of Innova on at the Foyer Federa on in the UK, mo vated delegates with his ‘Advantaged Thinking’ address. ‘Advantaged Thinking’ focuses on strengths rather than the nega ves when interac ng with clients. The importance of language and posi ve risk taking were key themes explored further in the ‘Advantaged Thinking’ workshop. The benefi ts of considering client’s complex goals rather than complex needs as well as focusing on the 80% we need to invest in opposed to the 20% we need to cut were highlighted as vital for innova on and effi ciency for achieving outcomes. For more informa on visit h p://foyer.net.

Cindy Southworth, from the Na onal Network to End Domes c Violence in the USA, challenged the audience to reassess their technology use as she delivered her session on technology misuse and women’s safety. How technology can be misused by perpetrators of domes c violence was exposed and how agencies can assist survivors to protect themselves without compromising their independence was explored. The presenta on walked the a endees through the work of the Safety Net Project and its interac on with private industry, government and interna onal groups to improve safety and privacy for vic ms in the digital age.

Paul Memmott, Aboriginal Environments Research Centre, University of Queensland, presented on ‘What is Aboriginal spiritual homelessness?’ The growing visible form of Indigenous homelessness that can be termed ‘spiritual homelessness’, but that this has not yet been adequately defi ned or understood was discussed. It was reasoned that mobile Aboriginal public-place dwellers living i nerant lifestyles who are away from their homeland can be divided into the two categories, those who have lost their tradi ons (spiritually homeless) and are chronically homeless, and those who are maintaining their tradi ons in their i nerant lifestyle through their re-crea on of tradi onal place proper es wherever they camp or reside. The working defi ni on of Indigenous spiritual homelessness was provided as: a state arising from involuntary separa on from tradi onal land, and from family and kinship networks as a result of historical governmental policies, and involving a crisis of personal iden ty wherein a person’s understanding or knowledge of how they relate to country, family and tradi onal Aboriginal iden ty systems is confused, or lacking, or if known, unable to be fulfi lled. Such feelings add to the already depressed emo onal state in which Aboriginal people, either public place dwellers or those at risk of homelessness, o en fi nd themselves…and can have serious eff ects on their mental health, some mes resul ng in self-injury or suicide. (Why are special services needed to address Indigenous homelessness? P.Memmo , C Birdsall-Jones, K Greenop, University of Queensland). The presenta on concluded that under this defi ni on there is much work ahead of us to develop diagnos c tools and treatment programs for spiritual homelessness.

Homelessness Australia noted that a heartening aspect of the Conference was the range of non-homelessness sector organisa ons who were involved as delegates, presenters or sponsors, reinforcing the understanding that homelessness is bigger than one sector and that sectors must unite to succeed.

The Conference presenta ons are available for download at: h p://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/index.php/events/na onal-homelessness-conference/8th-na onal-homelessness-conference/2-uncategorised/90-conference- metable

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Venture Housing Company was established in 2012 with strong support from the Territory Government and is an independently incorporated company under the Corpora ons Act.

Venture was established by two successful interstate aff ordable housing rental companies: Housing Choices Australia and Unity Housing Company.

Venture focuses on providing rental housing for low to moderate income earners (key workers) in the Territory who are struggling to fi nd a home but may not qualify for public housing.

In the Village@Parap Unit Complex Venture has 35 newly built units which became available for rent in December 2012. Venture also manages 10 proper es in the Village@Parap for seniors on behalf of Territory Housing.

These are some of Venture’s other current projects underway in Nightcliff and Palmerston.

10 within Nightcliff Gardens Stage 2 9 within this complex

12 within this complex All 6 of these

48 within this complex

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Central Australian Aff ordable HousingThe main purpose for the establishment of CAAHC was to provide high quality housing management for the Town Camps of Alice Springs. This remains a high priority although very challenging.

CAAH believes a community housing approach which draws on the major advances in that sector across most Australian States over the last two decades is more likely to provide the fl exibility and responsiveness required to fully engage Town Camp residents and restore their hope for a be er future and their commitment to the development of their communi es.

CAAH is therefore embarking on 3 key priority areas;

• Best prac ce housing management for the Alice Springs Town camps

• Expanding the supply of aff ordable housing within the Alice Springs township

• Suppor ng the CLC to develop and advocate an alterna ve model for integrated and responsive community housing management in remote communi es.

Crea ng new housing opportuni es for Aboriginal people within the urban framework of Alice Springs is a high priority for CAAHC. Through its development ac vi es it aims to overcome the barriers Aboriginal people face in the housing market – cost, choice and discrimina on.

The past year has seen a number of developments including:

• Purchase of a site in Bloomfi eld Street, Gillen and the commencement of construc on of 11 medium density units – these units will be occupied as aff ordable rental during 2015.

• Purchase of a medium density site in the new Kilgariff subdivision which will be developed in the future for an aff ordable rent to buy model.

• Renego a on of the lease on the St Mary’s site which will see CAAHC manage the site un l June 30, 2017 providing 12 dwellings for aff ordable rental while assis ng the Anglican Diocese with inves ga ng and developing a long term future for the site.

• Successfully submi ng a tender to take on the management of 10 x 2 bedroom dwellings in Elliot Street, Braitling which will be managed as aff ordable rental housing for older persons.

In addi on to these developments we have been an ac ve par cipant in NT Shelter which is the peak organisa on for agencies interested in working collabora vely for an increase in the supply of aff ordable housing in the Territory.

As part of this involvement we have assisted with the establishment of the Community Housing Coali on of NT which has an ini al membership of 11 non-government organisa ons. The Coali on has made submissions to the Department of Housing advoca ng for a greater role for community housing organisa ons.

Hal BissetCEOCentral Australian Aff ordable Housing Company

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HOUSING AND FEDERALISM: Is it me to change direc on?Adrian Pisarski Na onal Shelter Execu ve Offi cerThe Abbo Government has announced a Federa on White paper to be completed in 2015. Its objec ves are to clarify the respec ve roles of the states and the commonwealth and to ensure the future of the federa on is be er understood by ci zens, reduces duplica on, enhances governments’ autonomy, accountability and fl exibility and supports growth and economic compe veness. The housing and homelessness review announced by Minister Andrews is closely related to this and the issues of how to proceed with housing and homelessness policy and funding are cri cal.The review will consider limi ng the Commonwealth to roles iden fi ed in sec on 51 of the Cons tu on. These roles, which are limited to those roles imaginable in 1899, do not include a direct role in housing. The review though specifi cally men ons arrangements about housing along with health and other areas. The Commonwealth is required, by sec on 51, to have roles in social security and so would keep its responsibili es for Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) as an income support supplement. The central proposi on is that the Commonwealth should not fund capital or support state housing authori es but restrict its role to direct funding of tenants and extend CRA to public tenants who are currently ineligible.If carried through it would end 70 years of Commonwealth involvement in housing agreements providing capital funding and opera onal subsidy. So what would the implica ons be? Might it make be er sense of housing policy and programs or would it consign low income households to housing stress and poverty in a market that fails to meet their needs or provide adequate supply of aff ordable rental housing?It is important to understand why the Commonwealth got involved in the fi rst place and if its job is now done in order to understand where housing fi ts within the Federa on and if now is the me to change.The main instrument of Commonwealth involvement in housing has been the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement (CSHA), replaced in 2008 by the Na onal Aff ordable Housing Agreement (NAHA). The CSHA was introduced in 1945 to address a housing supply shortage, iden fi ed as 300,000 proper es in 1943. At the me our popula on was about 7 million. Ini ally the CSHA supported only rental housing with 50% of its provision directed at ex-defence personnel, later agreements included home purchase assistance via low interest loans. Much of its provision was based on debt fi nancing but in 1973 it introduced some grant funding and began targe ng to low income households and limited sales of CSHA housing. The early agreements (1945 and 56) also saw diff erent approaches by states as they had great leeway in rents charged, eligibility and funding levels and some states built far more to support manufacturing (SA). In 1978 more restric ve targe ng to households in high need began and support for head leasing and other forms of assistance was introduced (community housing e.g.) along with a state matching requirement.In 1981 formal state matching requirements were introduced and commonwealth contribu ons further targeted to need but restric ons on un ed grants were removed. In 1984 specifi c programs like rental housing for Aborigines, rental housing for pensioners, crisis accommoda on, local government and community housing and mortgage and rent assistance replaced previous arrangements and a set formula for public housing rent was established.In the mid 1980s CRA is introduced ini ally at about 25% of the level of CSHA funding but now CRA is approximately triple the level of NAHA funding.In 1989 the agreement agrees to boost the level of public housing stock and also requires 50% state matching of un ed grants and moves to grant funding away from the loan funding of the past. Some states s ll carry signifi cant debt to the commonwealth from loans.In 1996 the emphasis moves to outcomes for low income households away from levels of housing supply and begins the current obsession with accountability for grants from the commonwealth by the states and introduces outcome targets and measures. This is further strengthened in 1999 as well as removing the security of tenure for dura on of need clauses.

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The 2003 agreement con nued this trend un l being replaced by the NAHA in 2008 which also removed state matching requirements, limits on stock transfers to the community sector and became an agreement in perpetuity not requiring the regular renego a on of previous agreements.In 2012 the Na onal Housing Supply Council, formed alongside the NAHA es mated a housing supply shortage of 539,000 aff ordable and available to households in the bo om 40% of incomes.The Commission of Audit also recommended the commonwealth withdraw from direct funding and that public tenants be made eligible for CRA and charged market rents to improve transparency and accountability between the commonwealth and states.This appears to follow the logic developed by Jeff ery Harmer, then head of FaHCSIA in his 2009 review and Ken Henry head of Treasury in 2012 in the Tax review. Harmer and Henry point to the inadequacy of CRA in mee ng rental aff ordability and the workforce disincen ve in social housing linked income based rents. They call for CRA to be paid to public tenants, for pubic tenants to be charged a market related rent. However they also discuss a rela onship to market rather than a full market rent and Henry recommends an addi onal high needs payment to providers to meet the addi onal needs (employment connec on, health, other support) of high needs tenants.The NAHA currently costs about $1.3b pa with about $300m of that being for specialist homelessness services, so the base level of NAHA is about $1b. The cost of provision of CRA to public tenants is perhaps $1.25b meaning an addi onal cost to the Commonwealth of $250m pa compared to the NAHA. CRA would also have to rise signifi cantly to meet the aff ordability threshold for public tenants if they were paying market rents. I es mate that for a sole parent with two children under 6, the diff erence between their rent in public housing paying 25% of income and the market rent would be $6500 pa including the current level of CRA. For a single pensioner the diff erence is approximately $5000 pa. The addi onal CRA required to provide the same aff ordability would be at least $1.5b pa. The higher needs payment would add an addi onal amount depending on the level at which it was struck and the number of households who would be eligible.Alterna vely the commonwealth could require the states to meet the subsidy meaning a cost shi to States of an addi onal $1.5b pa. In NSW this would mean the state fi nding $500m extra if they were to protect aff ordability for tenants at current levels.A key argument for the commonwealth withdrawing is the ongoing argument between the commonwealth and states over accountability and transparency. Because under our federa on states are not required to provide their full accounts to the commonwealth a historic mistrust has developed where the commonwealth is convinced the states hide the level of sales of public housing, and obscure the exact number of dwellings in their por olios.States argue they spend in accordance with the agreement on a range of housing assistance measures in addi on to spending on housing. They also argue a state subsidy for every public housing property. There is a need to clarify the transparency and accountability of current NAHA arrangements. One way of achieving this would be to cease commonwealth capital funding and using CRA for public tenants as an alterna ve to grant funding. However it could also be se led via a na onal audit of property por olios and a requirement in future agreements to specify net addi ons or losses and money fl ow from sales. The Commonwealth of Australia is also the signatory to the United Na ons Covenant on Social Economic and Cultural Rights, which includes at ar cle 11, the right to adequate housing. The states are not separately responsible for mee ng this obliga on and changes to the historic arrangements might weaken the responsibility which the commonwealth is obliged to meet.States also face funding dilemmas of their own whereby they only collect some 40% of the revenue required to meet their various obliga ons and most states would struggle to meet any addi onal cost of housing depending on the arrangements put in place. It might also mean a wide varia on in the quality and adequacy of housing between states as some are fi nancially more able to meet housing costs and already states have diff erent strategies.Currently and increasingly states are shi ing parts of their por olios to community housing to enable the addi onal CRA to be collected in rent calcula ons whilst retaining their NAHA payment. Changes would require states to op mise their rent calcula ons like community providers and would provide a more equal treatment of community and public housing.It is most likely there would be an addi onal cost to tenants in changing these arrangements and the change would not increase the ability of either states or community providers to add to the supply shor all.It brings us back to the ques on about the role of the commonwealth. In 1945 it began its involvement because of inadequate genera on of supply. Along with its sec on 51 responsibility for social security payments, including CRA, are tax responsibili es. Current tax se ngs (Deduc bility of expenses, including the diff erence between rent revenue and interest payments and capital gains tax exemp ons for investors) arguably distort the market adding infl a onary pressure by pi ng investors against occupiers and contribute to the supply shortage by advantaging exis ng rather than new property. Broad housing se ngs in the market and for overall supply therefore remain within the purview of the commonwealth.

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States also have a role around supply with responsibility for land use planning, land taxes, stamp duty and could introduce or strengthen measures to improve aff ordable housing supply. Na onal Shelter has long argued there is a role for all levels of government ideally led by a Federal Minister with broad responsibili es for housing rather than the current limited role of the Minister (who doesn't have housing in his tle) around welfare housing. There is a need to u lise all the levers available to all levels of government to meet the supply shor all and to do so in the context of a na onal housing policy and strategy not just nkering on the edges via the limited role of aff ordable housing programs s ll largely limited to a welfare role.The job of providing suffi cient supply begun in 1945 has not been met. The shortage may now be smaller rela ve to total popula on but the task remains large. It is doub ul that suffi cient addi onal funds would be found by either the commonwealth or states to meet the increased cost of CRA required to maintain aff ordability for tenants in an environment of budget constraint, without considering the need to generally li the level of CRA for tenants in the private rental market.This also tackles the problem of insuffi cient supply through a process which would boost demand resources and increase compe on for currently limited aff ordable housing availability adding to the exis ng infl a onary pressures.We raise these ques ons to an cipate some of the angles in this discussion and look forward to contribu ng further thought around the policy and program implica ons of the federa on white paper.

Adrian Pisarski Na onal Shelter Execu ve Offi cer

The Commonwealth Government has released ‘Issues Paper 1’ of the Reform of the Federa on White Paper.In all, a series of fi ve issues papers will be published to pose ques ons and promote public discussion. This is the fi rst of the issues papers. Housing and homelessness, health and educa on will each have a dedicated issues paper, as will federal fi nancial rela ons. These four papers have yet to be released.For a copy of Issues Paper 1 go to h p://federa on.dpmc.gov.au/download-full-issues-paper

The Australasian Housing Ins tute is the membership-based professional associa on for social housing professionals: the only organisa on spanning the en re housing sector, drawing together the people and the varied disciplines that together make up the modern housing system.

The AHI works with housing professionals across New Zealand and Australia to help them achieve excellence in their work and the best possible outcomes for tenants, communi es and organisa ons.

The Ins tutes’s strength depends on the level of membership involvement in its programs. Every AHI member plays a part in the success of the AHI through par cipa on in events and networks, contribu ons to publica ons and debate, and achievements in social housing.

AHI Programs include;

The Australasian Housing Ins tute Awards provide an opportunity to showcase social housing success stories. The Awards formally recognise and reward excellence in professional prac ce, from the grass roots to the most senior levels.

In 2015 the AHI Australasian Award presenta on will be held during the Na onal Housing Conference. Awards will go to housing professionals who are judged to have made a signifi cant and las ng diff erence: to tenants or service users, to their community, to their colleagues and to their profession. The Awards recognise the contribu ons and achievements of our colleagues in the many disciplines which make up the housing profession.

AHI Professional Development ac vi es aim to enhance the current and future performance and capability of the social housing industry through the con nued growth and development of the industry’s most valuable resource, its people. AHI carries out this objec ve by providing social housing professionals access to a diverse range of quality professional development opportuni es through workshops, networking events, seminars and master-classes.

Find our more or join at h p://www.housingins tute.org/About-Membership

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NT Shelter’s 2015/16 PRE-BUDGET SUBMISSIONto the NT Government

NT Shelter is currently developing its 2015/15 Pre-Budget Submission to the NT Government.

We believe that public policies and programs that ensure adequate and equitable access to aff ordable and appropriate housing and hence enabling greater social and economic par cipa on must be included as cri cal components of broader strategies that aim at growing the Northern Territory economy.

The housing crisis for many households in the Northern Territory remains entrenched and our policy posi ons cover a range of issues including homelessness, community housing, public housing, Aboriginal housing, home ownership, planning, alternate fi nancing and other poten al new ideas.

Both the Australian and NT Governments have a signifi cant role to play in ensuring that all Australians have access to aff ordable, safe and adequate housing that enables residents to contribute to social and economic par cipa on. NT Shelter believes that the goal of government housing policy should be to ensure that all NT households can access aff ordable housing and that government needs to coordinate eff orts to achieve that goal.

Demand for housing in Australia is projected to con nue to increase much faster than supply.

In 2012 the Na onal Housing Supply Council es mated the shortage of aff ordable and available housing to the bo om 40% income households was 539,000 proper es.

While the housing system works well for most, increasing numbers of Territorians are suff ering housing stress, overcrowding and homelessness - falling into the gap in our housing system between public housing and the private market simply because there is insuffi cient and available public, community or aff ordable housing in all regions of the Territory.

In the NT in the years between 2003/04 to 2012/13 public housing dwelling numbers have declined 10% while house prices rose by about 50% in the past 6 years and rents up 60% between 2006 and 2011 (80% in Darwin)- much faster than incomes.

We believe that its vital that the NT Government- in partnership with the private and Not-For-Profi t sectors- pursues a far greater range of measures to develop opportuni es aimed at increasing the supply of social and aff ordable housing for Territorians throughout the NT. We believe

A dra of our Budget Submission is available on our website at h p://www.ntshelter.org.au/uploads/ntshelter/Document%20Uploads/1014%201516%20DRAFT%20NT%20Shelter%20NTG%20Bud%20Sub%20v3.pdf

Open for feedback un l 19th November.

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Morgan SabbithContact Morgan on 89815003 or hpo@ntshelter.org.au

NT Shelter’s Homelessness Policy Offi cerBoth the Homelessness Policy Offi cer and Central Australian Policy Offi cers are focussed at present on an

NT Social Housing and Supported Accommoda on Stock Mapping ProjectFollowing from work ini ated through the Alice Springs Accommoda on Ac on Group in 2013, NT Shelter is star ng to map the social housing and supported accommoda on stock in the NT.

This mapping will assist to build a housing and homelessness evidence base and increase our shared understanding of stock throughout the NT. The project will develop a database of NT social housing stock informa on and be able to produce various maps iden fying varying stock informa on to highlight stock use as well as service gaps. Surveys will be undertaken every 6 months to ensure that the database is kept current.

By the end of December NT Shelter hopes to have informa on compiled for Greater Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs with pictorial maps created by February. Agencies should expect a call from Morgan or David in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Accommoda on Ac on GroupsThe HPO facilitates the Katherine Accommoda on Ac on Group (KAAG) and Darwin Region Accommoda on Ac on Group (DRAAG) mee ngs. KAAGEarlier this year KAAG iden fi ed the need for basic ameni es for washing and laundering for people experiencing homelessness in the region. A working group was established to consider the challenges and feasibility of a mul purpose space to provide these basic ameni es as well as be a focal point for homelessness services delivery. Red Cross have taken the lead and have submi ed for funding to develop the mul purpose space with the support of the working group. Next Mee ng: 10:00am – 1:00pm Tuesday 25th of November at the DCF mee ng room, Unit 2 /3 First Street, Katherine. DRAAGDRAAG is currently planning a homelessness awareness campaign to build community awareness of homelessness with a focus on children, youth and families in Darwin over the Christmas period. The campaign will e agency level ac vi es to a consistent media strategy led by NT Shelter. Opportuni es for the public to volunteer or donate will be promoted through the campaign. Agencies wan ng to get involved are urged to contact Morgan on 08 8981 5003. Next Mee ng: 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Wednesday 3rd December at the Somerville mee ng room, 3 Victoria Drive, Gray.

Council for Homeless Persons Australia (CHPA)NT Shelter’s HPO is the NT representa ve for CHPA and a ended the mee ng in September. Sector issues are iden fi ed through NT Shelter networking and the Accommoda on Ac on Groups, facilitated by NT Shelter in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Darwin regions were reported to CHPA at the mee ng, including:• Lack of accommoda on, the need to develop a community housing sector to grow social housing stock and the

extremely high need for visitor accommoda on in Katherine and Tennant Creek.• Public housing extensive wait mes and inconsistent implementa on of the Three Strikes Policy. • Unaff ordability, the high cost of living and the extremely low median personal income of Indigenous people• Aboriginal homelessness, the dispropor onate number of Aboriginal people in the NT experiencing homelessness

and living in severely overcrowded condi ons.• Challenges of Asylum seekers and refugee background persons seeking accommoda on in Darwin with regard to

unaff ordability, lack of accommoda on, housing insecurity and overcrowding.• Challenges for people in rural or remote communi es including lack of accommoda on, public housing, repairs

and maintenance, and overcrowding. Note: CHPA is one of three founding member organisa ons of Homelessness Australia, along with the Na onal Youth Coali on for Housing (NYCH) and Women's Emergency Services Network (WESNET).

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NT Shelter’s Homelessness Policy Offi cerAn app to help people experiencing homelessness wins a Google grantInfoxchange are thrilled to have won the Google Impact Challenge grant that will allow them develop their world-fi rst app that will help people experiencing homelessness around Australia. Infoxchange was one of four not-for-profi ts organisa ons to receive $500,000 in funding and support from Google. Infoxchange stated that a mobile phone becomes a lifeline for people experiencing homelessness and thanked all who voted for them. For more informa on visit h p://www.infoxchange.net.au.

Call for contribu ons for the November 2014 edi on of Parity Parity magazine produced by the Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) is calling for contribu ons to their November edi on. The focus of this edi on is ‘Living in Limbo: Asylum Seekers and Homelessness’ and the call for contribu ons provides plenty of opportunity and scope for a wide range of contribu ons. All contribu ons need to be submi ed by Friday November 14th 2014.For more informa on and all enquiries contact the Parity Editor, parity@chp.org.au or phone 03 8415 6200.

Rights On Show 2014RIGHTS ON SHOW provides a forum for ar sts to exhibit work with a human rights focus, promo ng human rights dialogue within the arts sector and the wider community. Art has an important func on in our society as a vehicle for social change and expression. Art allows social ideas to be challenged and highlights the right to freedom of expression the world over. Become a part of this discussion by par cipa ng in RIGHTS ON SHOW 2014. All mediums of art are welcome, including 2D, 3D, sculpture, mul media and installa ons. RIGHTS ON SHOW is open to ar sts of all ages and all abili es. The 2014 theme is: 20 years of Rights on Show: Celebra ng human rights – how far have we come? Award categories include Rights on Show Award, Human Rights Award, Ian Tranthem Jus ce Award, Secondary School Award, Primary School Award, People’s Choice Award, Judges Commenda on Awards. DCLS invites ar sts to address the specifi c theme, or any other area of human rights. DCLS can visit your school or community group for a crea ve discussion about RIGHTS ON SHOW - for bookings please contact info@dcls.org.au or 08 8982 1111.Entries due: Artwork must be delivered to The Darwin Supreme Court: 8.30 am - 4.30 pm on Friday 21 November 2014. Exhibi on dates: 8.00 am - 4.00 pm Monday – Friday, 27 November - 12 December 2014.Opening night: 5.30 pm, Thursday 27 November 2014 Supreme Court Darwin.

The cost of homelessness & net benefi t of homelessness programs - na onal study Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) aim to assist people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, to access and maintain stable and secure accommoda on. The cost of homelessness and the net cost of homelessness programs: a na onal study examines the client outcomes of these services and the net costs of these programs for governments. Governments face direct costs for these programs but also may make budgetary savings resul ng from reduced use of non-homelessness services (e.g. health, jus ce and welfare services). For more informa on visit the Australian Housing and Urban Research Ins tute (AHURI) website at h p://www.ahuri.edu.au/publica ons/projects/p82014.

Social impact and outcomes measurementYMCA Australia is proud to be hos ng ‘Social Impact and Outcomes Measurement – Future Direc ons for Australia’ in Darwin on Thursday 27 November (1pm to 5pm, registra ons open at 12noon). YMCA Australia are very excited to announce that Tris Lumley (Director of Development, New Philanthropy Capital, UK) is a keynote speaker for the forum. Tris will be providing his insights on interna onal trends and innova on in outcomes measurement and social impact. Tris will also provide his perspec ve on the future direc ons on impact and outcomes measurement for Australia. During the forum, we will also hear from individuals and organisa ons working within an outcomes framework in the NT and we will have the opportunity to share learnings, discuss the challenges and opportuni es and build collabora ve partnerships for collec ve impact.Tickets can be purchased through: h ps://www.s cky ckets.com.au/19922 standard: $120, student: $90. For more informa on contact Jacki Whitwell on jacki.whitwell@ymca.org.au

Please ensure that your homelessness relevant services are listed within the directory and that they are up-to-date.Check out ShelterMe at www.shelterme.org.au

First ABS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survey to collect experiences of homelessnessFor the fi rst me, experiences of homelessness will be collected in the 2014–15 Na onal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS) by the Australian Bureau of Sta s cs (ABS). The survey has commenced and is part an established program of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sta s cs collected by the ABS. This year NATSISS will expand on the informa on collected in previous social surveys to explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ par cipa on in society and will also highlight barriers to that par cipa on. A total of 11,500 randomly selected households will be surveyed, 3,000 of which will be from Australia’s remotest areas. The fi rst results will be released on the ABS website from March 2016 and will be used by a wide range of Aboriginal organisa ons, researchers, government, and community organisa ons. The informa on will be used to inform government decisions and policy direc on, and assist with research into the circumstances of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia. A video describing NATSISS is available for viewing at h p://www.abs.gov.au/videos/434-0414-001/NATSISS14_15_player.html. Further informa on is available at www.abs.gov.au/natsiss.

Free legal informa on sessions for women in KatherineKatherine Women’s Crisis Centre & Katherine Women’s Informa on and Legal Service (KWILS) are hos ng free legal informa on session for women in Katherine.• Domes c Violence Orders (DVOs) - This session is all about DVOs, how to apply for a DVO, the process, and the

types of DVO’s. 1pm to 3pm, Monday 3rd November.• Vic ms of Crime Compensa on Claims - What is this? How does the process work? 1pm to 3pm, Monday 10th

November.• Department of Children and Families - Are you wan ng to know more about protec on orders? 1pm to 3pm,

Monday 17th November.• Housing - Do you have any housing problems, or need advice on something housing related? 1pm to 3pm, Monday

24th November.• Family Law Informa on about custody, recoveries and paren ng plans. 1pm to 3pm, Monday 1st December.• Domes c Violence Orders (DVOs) - 1pm to 3pm, Monday 8th December.• General Session - If you have any ques ons or want to know more about a specifi c topic it can be included it in this

session. 1pm to 3pm, Monday 15th December.For more informa on please contact Karisa at the Katherine Women’s Crisis Centre on 89721 332 or email projects@kwcc.org.au.

Trauma-informed training in Darwin in 2015Karen Hulls Social Work Services are providing the following trauma-informed training opportuni es in Darwin in 2015.Elephant in the Room! What is ‘Trauma-Informed’ Care? - 10th & 11th March 2015This training program is designed for professionals working in community services, health & educa on who provide services to children, youth, adults and families who have experienced trauma. The ‘8 principles of trauma-informed prac ce’ will be discussed and prac cal strategies to implement these in various contexts (e.g. schools, foster care, residen al care, offi ce based workplaces etc) will be explored. The Sanctuary Model (Dr Sandra Bloom) is introduced as an example of a trauma-informed prac ce model during this workshop. What’s in the Box? Understanding Trauma & Posi ve Behaviour Support Strategies - 12 & 13th March 2015This training program assists workers and carers in social and community services, schools, out of home care, health services, youth jus ce etc to understand and meet the needs of children, young people and adults who have experienced complex trauma. Workers and carers need a toolbox of ‘trauma-informed’ strategies which starts with knowledge of the impact of trauma on brain development and the psychobiology of trauma. Based on this understanding, workers and carers will recognise the need for well-developed skills in using a range of posi ve behaviour support strategies which avoid re-trauma sa on and assist a child, young person or adult to heal from trauma, in their homes, schools and the community. To book visit the website h p://www.karenhulls.com.au.

NT Shelter’s Homelessness Policy Offi cer

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FINANCING THROUGH SOCIAL BENEFIT BONDSSocial Benefi t Bonds are bonds focused on investment in a social program or outcome.

Although there are varia ons in the types of social benefi t bonds, generally they are recognised as involving the following key components: • investors agreeing to provide government with upfront funding for a social program • non-government organisa ons agreeing to deliver a social program over a period of me • the government agreeing to repay the ini al investment, along with a return, if the program achieves certain

outcomes.

NT Shelter has previously provided informa on on research on housing supply bonds (HSB), a specifi c type of social benefi t bond inves gated and designed by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Ins tute (AHURI).

These bonds focus on investment in aff ordable housing and in crea ng addi onal supply of housing in the sector and the research has been presented to the Australian Government for considera on. Housing Supply Bonds are designed to reduce the cost of funding available for community housing providers and thus enhance their capacity to increase the supply of aff ordable housing.

In its research, AHURI also explained that housing supply bonds would need to be a low risk, low yield and long term instrument in order to off er cheap funds for borrowers such as community housing providers. They give three examples of types of housing supply bonds, including the AAA HSB, Tax Smart HSB and a NAHA (Na onal Aff ordable Housing Agreement) Growth Bond.

The HSBs proposed are intended to provide a standardized instrument for retail and ins tu onal investors, to encourage investment in aff ordable rental housing and to keep at arm’s length the respec ve roles of investor in, and provider of, aff ordable housing. The funds raised are then on-lent to providers. It is proposed that only regulated providers of publicly approved projects should be able to apply for fi nance raised by these bonds to ensure that clearly defi ned policy targets are met.

NSW has been trialing a diff erent type of social benefi t bond as a fi nancial instrument which pays a return based on the achievement of social outcomes.

Under a bond, investors fund the delivery of services targeted at improving a social outcome, which in turn reduces the need for government funding. A share of the government’s savings is used to repay the principal to investors and to pay a return on investment con ngent on the outcomes achieved.

Trials include, Uni ngCare Burnside’s New Parent and Infant Network (Newpin) that provides intensive support to struggling families, and the Benevolent Society’s Resilient Families Service. These were wri en up in the New South Wales Parliament, Legisla ve Council, Select Commi ee on Social, Public and Aff ordable Housing Report, September 2014 Chapter 10.

The Select Commi ee noted and at the me of wri ng the report, that there may be a third social benefi t bond pilot related to a program to reduce adult reoff ending in the criminal jus ce system.

From the NSW experience it has been iden fi ed that projects involved in the use of social benefi t bonds need to have a strong focus on outcomes, evidenced based interven on, and clear agreement with government about the service delivery outcomes to be measured and strong data collec on and repor ng criteria.

For a full copy of the NSW Select Commi ee’s Report go to h p://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/commi ee.nsf/0/12b4da4578015782ca257d4d00120ff e/$FILE/Report%20on%20Social,%20public%20and%20aff ordable%20housing%20-%20September%202014.pdf

Or for the Chapter 10 on Social Benefi t Bonds go to h p://www.ntshelter.org.au/uploads/ntshelter/Document%20Uploads/1014%202014%20NSW%20Soc%20Impact%20Bonds.pdf

NT Shelter’s Central Australian Policy Offi cerDavid Havercro Contact David on 89526975 or ca@ntshelter.org.au

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Tennant Creek Housing Seminar, 29 October

Hosted by the Barkly Region Accommoda on Group and NT Shelter in Tennant Creek, this half day seminar was a ended by 30 people drawn from a large cross-sec on of Government & NGO agencies, along with the presenters. Presenta ons, including audio, will be made available in the next couple of weeks.

3 speakers presented, providing a vital opportunity for learning & discussion of the Barkly’s housing plight:

Barkly - Overview of recent data and methods for es ma ng homelessness Celia Moss - NT Regional Director & Assistant Sta s cian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sta s cs (Australian Bureau of Sta s cs)

Learnings from the Barkly - A review of recent housing research fi ndingsProfessor Paul Memmo - Director, Aboriginal Environments Research Centre (University of Queensland)Dr Daphne Nash - Research Fellow, Aboriginal Environments Research Centre

Paul & Daphne’s presenta on provided some brief commentary on the Forrest Review’s ‘Crea ng Parity’ report recommenda ons, then providing an overview of fi ndings from recent research on service delivery to Indigenous people experiencing homelessness in regional Australia, and current fi ndings through the ‘Aboriginal Lifeworlds, Condi onality and Housing Outcomes’ mul -year project through AHURI.

Central Australian Aff ordable Housing Business ModelHal Bisset - Chief Execu ve Offi cer (Central Australian Aff ordable Housing Company)

A range of strategies were listed during proceedings to inform future work.

A endees nominated preferences at the event’s close, with the following receiving most support for further work, commencing with the most popular:• Developing bush visitor accommoda on;• Develop ideas/ plans to improve housing with tenants/ Aboriginal people;• Suppor ng current programs; e.g. transi onal accommoda on, FDV;• Improving inter-agency coopera on – move with those who are willing to get on with it;• Workshop the Central Australian Aff ordable Housing Company (CAAHC) model and how it could be applied to

Tennant Creek.

NT Shelter would par cularly like to acknowledge the signifi cant support of the Tenant Creek Women’s Refuge in staging the event.

Aboriginal Hostels Limited Community Forum, Alice Springs 17 October

This forum provided Alice Springs-based organisa ons the opportunity to hear about AHL’s recently launched Strategic Plan and how it relates to their services in Central Australia.

AHL Chair Kevin Smith provided a brief overview of AHL’s 2014-17 Strategic Plan, with reference to their current opera ng environment, the challenges AHL faces, and its desire to have an increased focus on accommoda on ed to educa on and employment (refer: h p://www.ahl.gov.au/sites/default/fi les/AHL%20Strategic%20Plan%202014-17.pdf).

Following this Joy Savage (AHL CEO), Katrina Fanning (General Manager, Opera ons) and Fiona Haddon (Manager, Southern Central Australia Regional) provided insights into developments at AHL before responding to ques ons from the fl oor.

This allowed a endees to get clarifi ca on on a number of issues, including AHL’s recent direc ve regarding residents’ use of small electrical devices. Importantly there was clear acknowledgement by the AHL panel that there needs to be a ramping up of consulta ve engagement with residents and other stakeholders, and a desire to be part of the vibrancy and community of Alice Springs.

Closing the Housing Gap in the Barkly addressing the need for increased supply of housing & supported accommoda on facili es in the Barkly

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NT Shelter’s Central Australian Policy Offi cerAlice Springs Accommoda on Ac on Group (AAG)

The AAG is the principal forum for ongoing discussion and lobbying on housing and homelessness issues in Alice Springs and its surroundings.

The last regular AAG mee ng for 2014 is on

Date: Thursday 4th December, from 12:30 to 2:30pm

Venue: Andy McNeill Room, Alice Springs Civic Centre

For more informa on contact David at ca@ntshelter.org.au

Barkly Region Accommoda on Group (BRAG) - Next mee ng

BRAG is the principal forum for ongoing discussion and lobbying on housing and homelessness issues in Tennant Creek and the Barkly.

The last regular BRAG mee ng for 2014 is on

Date: Wednesday 26th November, from 10:00am to 12:00 Noon

Venue: Government Building Conference Room (1st fl oor, above Territory Housing), Peko Rd, Tennant Creek

Having just staged the ‘Closing the Housing Gap in the Barkly’ seminar, a key focus of the mee ng will be to determine direc ons based on strategies iden fi ed from this and April’s strategic planning workshop.

For more informa on contact David at ca@ntshelter.org.au

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October UpdateThe na onal Working Group has con nued to meet regularly and progress its ambi on to establish an industry body that will represent the interests of community housing providers across the country.

Consulta ons have been conducted in each state and territory and have demonstrated that there is a widespread interest in forming a Na onal Industry Body (NIB) that will assist organisa ons with eff ec ve poli cal and community advocacy and also organisa onal development.

Members have also stressed that whilst they recognise the need for an eff ec ve federal lobby to champion the needs of social housing providers this should not be at the expense of eff ec ve state organisa ons liaising with state bureaucracies and off ering locally based services to members. Members have also expressed their preference for the NIB to be governed directly by its member organisa ons, with nominees of member organisa ons eligible to be elected to the governing Board.

Following this round of consulta ons the Working Group has recommended some amendments to the dra cons tu on to recognise the important role of branch commi ees in the NIB structure and also to ensure the direct elec on, by members from each State, in elec ng the eight region directors to the Board of the NIB.

The Working Group has developed a preferred metable which includes a longer transi onal phase where the restructured NIB will operate in tandem with exis ng State peaks for a period to enable regional elec ons for all region directors and the na onally elected Directors to be confi rmed. This will ensure that the NIB is opera ng successfully before the state peaks are formerly rolled into the NIB structure.

A special general mee ng of the Community Housing Federa on of Australia (CHFA)will be held in February 2015 to vote on the introduc on of the new cons tu on, with the CHFA Board to act as the interim NIB Board un l elec ons are conducted across the country in late 2015.

It is envisaged that the interim NIB Board in conjunc on with the NIB Working Group will adver se and recruit the inaugural CEO for the NIB in early 2015, which will enable the NIB to establish itself as an opera ng en ty before the formal merging of State opera ons into the NIB in 2016.

John McInerney

Chair, Na onal Industry Body Working Group

FAQsBranch ac vi es and autonomy

What if my jurisdic on doesn’t have a funded community housing peak body at the moment – will we be able to have a NIB Branch?

The NIB will have a Branch in every jurisdic on where there are members opera ng as community housing providers. This means that the NIB will be able to represent the industry in all States and Territories. In the immediate term, some NIB Branches will be funded only by membership fees, as there may not be State Government or other funding dedicated to that jurisdic on. It is an cipated that over me the fully func oning NIB will have strong Branches in every jurisdic on.

My organisa on is happy with the service we receive from our State peak – why should we take the risk on changing to the NIB?

The structure of the NIB has been developed to minimise the impact on State peaks, and to maximise the extent to which they will be able to con nue to off er the services members expect. In addi on, it is an cipated that new services and resources will be able to be developed to meet members needs more quickly and/or cost eff ec vely: there will be a genuine na onal market, and the NIB will be a large organisa on with greater capability to respond to emerging needs. Savings on administra on costs through reduced duplica on will also allow more funding to be directed to services and advocacy. In some circumstances, the na onal body may be be er posi oned to advocate to a State Government – this would only occur at the request of the State Branch.

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Will my Branch s ll off er the same opportuni es for advocacy, policy networking and services to members that it does now?

There is no reason for the State Branch to alter its range of ac vi es, or change staff or loca on. By establishing the NIB we aim to bolster the na onal offi ce – this will allow it to provide a greater level of service to the Branches by taking direct ac on on na onal issues and by helping to coordinate Branch ac vi es where that adds value. The na onal offi ce will be able to support States that have none or limited exis ng ac vity.

At the moment much of the ac vity in the housing area happens at State level – will my State Branch have the autonomy to manage State aff airs?

Each State Branch will have a high degree of independence and will be able to respond to members’ needs directly. Members in each State will elect a Branch Commi ee. In jurisdic ons where there are Branch staff , the Commi ee will provide guidance and support to Branch staff in dealing with State issues. While the Branch will have the ability to develop policy and ac vi es around State issues they will also have the benefi t of the knowledge and experience of other States, coordinated by the na onal offi ce.

Who will have access to State branches and what will be the rights of members to determine the offi cers of these Branches?

When community housing providers join the NIB they also join the Branch or Branches in which they operate. Branch staff will be staff of the NIB. Members in each State will elect a Branch Commi ee, which will provide guidance and support to Branch staff in dealing with State issues.

Funding arrangements

If we go ahead with the NIB will we put our Government funding at risk?

During the consulta ons we have been talking with funding bodies and generally they are comfortable with the change as long as their funding is quaran ned to their jurisdic on. The structure of the NIB will allow for suffi cient autonomy at Branch level to ensure that state-based funding can be expended on projects and priori es within that state.

How will the na onal offi ce be funded?

The NIB na onal offi ce will be funded by a combina on of exis ng Commonwealth Government funding and a 50% share of membership fees paid by all NIB members. We an cipate this will allow for the exis ng level of resourcing at CHFA plus the new posi on of NIB CEO.

Commonwealth Government involvement

Given that the Commonwealth Government is about to review its involvement in housing and may have a reduced role, is there any point to moving to a na onal industry body now?

It is unlikely that the Commonwealth Government would pass all responsibility for social housing to the states and territories. In such a scenario, it would be just as cri cal for the community housing industry to have a strong na onal voice and strong capacity for coordinated na onal advocacy, during what would be a major transforma on of funding and policy se ngs. In addi on, even if the Commonwealth Government reduced its engagement in social housing, there are s ll many areas of Commonwealth ac vity that impact on our members such as taxa on policy – GST, nega ve gearing and the regula on of chari es – as well as rent assistance and income support payments. Generally, over the years, the Commonwealth has increased its areas of involvement rather than reduced them. The community housing industry needs a strong voice and a strong na onal profi le to advance its interests.

See the NT Shelter website for more FAQs http://www.ntshelter.org.au/uploads/ntshelter/Document%20Uploads/1014%20Nletter%20NIB%20FAQs%20Oct.pdf

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Events & Research

Informa on Sessions on new grant agreements and DSS Data ExchangeDARWIN Monday 24 November 1.30-3.30pmThe Department of Social Services (DSS) is conduc ng informa on sessions in capital ci es during November 2014 to provide an overview of the content of DSS grant agreements.The sessions will help familiarise organisa ons with the grant agreements introduced as part of the new way of working for grants by outlining the key aspects associated with receiving DSS grant funding and any important changes from previous agreements.The sessions will include an overview of grant agreement terms and condi ons and the new streamlined repor ng requirements of the DSS Data Exchange.To a end, please register online to reserve a place. Please note that places are limited, so if you are interested in a ending please register early.h ps://www.dss.gov.au/grants/informa on-sessions-on-new-grant-agreements-and-dss-data-exchange

9th Na onal Housing Conference, PerthWednesday 28 October to Friday 30 October 2015.Convened by AHURI in partnership with the Western Australian Department of Housing, the conference ‘Opening Doors’ aims to share, debate, celebrate and promote ideas to deliver aff ordable housing for all Australians.The Na onal Housing Conference will open the door to new solu ons and innova ons as well as policies and new prac ce. It will open your mind to new possibili es.The conference website, together with conference e-updates, will keep you informed with all the latest conference news. Both of which will be complimented by our special conference app—your key tool for ac vely par cipa ng in the conversa on in Perth. Go to h p://www.nhc.edu.au/nhc-2015/invita on/

Key dates:Super Saver Registra on 28 October 2014- 31 March 2015 Dra program released 28 February 2015 Early bird registra on 1 April 2015 – 30 June 2015 Call for abstracts 15 April 2015 – 15 May 2015 TBC Standard registra on 1 July 2015 – 30 October 2015

Australasian Housing Researchers Conference 2015The next AHRC will be hosted by the AHURI Research Centre—University of Tasmania in Hobart, 18–20 Feb 2015. The deadline to submit abstracts is Sat 1 Nov 2014.www.ahrc2015.com.au

AHURI Reports and Research Final Report: No. 229Social housing exits: incidence, mo va ons and consequencesThis report explores the factors infl uencing tenant choices to remain in or depart from public housing. The research found that a small but signifi cant cohort of social housing tenants who are in paid employment and pay full market rent, would consider exi ng the sector at their own ini a ve to become home owners, but not private renters.h p://www.ahuri.edu.au/publica ons/projects/p71026

Contact us at NT ShelterDarwin Offi ce:

10/21 Cavenagh Street, DarwinPO Box 1577 Nightcliff NT 0814 Phone (08) 8981 5003 Web www.ntshelter.org.au

Execu ve Offi cerToni Vine BromleyEmail eo@ntshelter.org.auAdmin Offi cer Homelessness Policy Offi cerClare Corfi eld Morgan Sabbith Mob 0428 820 944Email admin@ntshelter.org.au Email hpo@ntshelter.org.au

Central Australia Offi ce:

Central Australian Policy Offi cerDavid Havercro Phone (08) 8952 6975Mob 0439 524 900Email ca@ntshelter.org.au

NT Shelter’s E-Le ers for both Housing and Homelessness are issued ievery month except the month of the Newsle er If you would like to subscribe or include an ar cle for any of these these please contact NT Shelter as follows:• for the Homelessness eLe er - Morgan Sabbith; hpo@ntshelter.org.au• for the Housing eLe er and Newsle er - Toni Vine Bromley; eo@ntshelter.org.au

On theNT Shelter website

www.ntshelter.org.au• Subscribe to our E-Bulle ns

• NT Shelter Housing Fact Sheets published Sept 2014 with data on urban housing from 2005 to 2014 - June/December Quarters

NT Combined Peaks Portal;

The web-based system to meet standards and maintain quality.

NT Shelter has joined with NTCOSS, COTA NT, NDS NT and the NT Mental Health Coali on to off er tailored on-line support services- through Stanfards Performace Pathways (SPP) and Management Support Online (MSO).

Organisa ons that are members of any of the NT peaks are en tled to a 15% discount on subscrip ons to both MSO and SPP.

For a free trial go to h ps://www.ngoservicesonline.com.au/nt-combined-peaks/

E-Letter

NT Shelter welcomes stories from the sector for inclusion in our quarterly Newsle er.

To submit ar cles please contact Toni Vine Bromley at eo@ntshelter.org.au

The deadline for copy in the fi rst newsle er in 2015 is 24th February.

Newsletter

ShelterMe - a Territory wide on-line directory of services for homeless Territorians or those looking for services.

Print a category, a region or a page!

www.shelterme.org.au• Check out the website and refer your clients to it

• Contact NT Shelter for any further informa on or to add or update an entry on the database

• Call us if you want more ShelterMe contact cards

Contact NT Shelter at admin@ntshelter.org.au