FORUM: Housing When? Evidence based practice for solving homelessness
On 2 April 2009, the City of Sydney and the Mercy Foundation co-hosted a 1-day forum titled ‘Housing When? Evidence based practice for solving homelessness’.
Over 200 people attended to hear from national and international speakers and to participate in discussion. A range of policies, practices and services that have been proven effective in reducing homelessness in other parts of the world and in Australia were explored.
The speakers included international and national champions on homelessness including:
- Mr Philip Mangano: Executive Director United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (US)
- Mr Rokus Loopik: social psychiatric nurse (Netherlands)
- Ms Rosanne Haggerty: founder and President of Common Ground (US)
- Dr Sam Tsemberis: Founder and Executive Director of Pathways to Housing (US).
Liz Giles, Manager Homelessness Unit, City of Sydney, also presented on the role and opportunity for local councils in homelessness and community inclusion.
As part of this event, the City also organised:
- 2 x 1-day workshops, facilitated by Mr Loopik, for service providers on ‘Critical Time Intervention and Housing First’
- Successful practice in the Netherlands for exiting people from prisons and hospitals into long term housing with support.
- Three round table discussions with Mr Mangano and the CCCLM CEOs the NSW government’s planning committee for development of the NSW Homelessness Action Plan
- Various heads of business including Common Ground partners.
Podcasts and PowerPoint presentations
The forum was recorded by the National Homelessness Information Clearing House and podcasts and power point presentations are available on their website.
