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Shelter SA
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Unit 44 |
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81 Carrington
Street |
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ADELAIDE SA
5000 |
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Tel: 08 8223
4077 |
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Fax: 08 8223
4099 |
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Email: |
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sheltersa@sheltersa.asn.au |
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ABN: 39 617 527
109 |
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The Aboriginal
Homelessness and Housing Support Branch
The launch of Shelter SA’s Aboriginal
Homelessness and Housing Support Branch in April 2008 grew out of a need
to specifically consider the housing and homelessness issues confronting
Aboriginal people in South Australia. Nationally, the
Aboriginal people comprise 2.4% of Australia’s population but make up
10% of the homeless population. According to Homelessness Australia’s
figures,
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“Aboriginal
people are over-represented in every category of
homelessness. |
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They
represent: |
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3.8 per
cent of people staying temporarily with friends or family; |
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6 percent of people living in insecure
boarding house accommodation; |
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16% of
rough sleepers; |
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20% of
people living temporarily in homeless services. In WA, 34%
of people in the homeless servicers system are Indigenous or
Torres Strait Islander: in NT they represent 66% of homeless
service users.” (Homelessness Australia, 2008) |
Aboriginal
people have distinct housing needs that often relate to cultural and
family issues. Family violence is the principal cause of Aboriginal
homelessness. Kinship obligations to family, extended and community
mean that often households are overcrowded. Aboriginal people are six
times more likely to live in overcrowded situations than the
non-Aboriginal population. The branch is designed to promote knowledge
and understanding of these concerns. Aboriginal homelessness and
relationship to housing has qualities that are located within a
particular Aboriginal framework that relates to the historical,
social/cultural context of the Aboriginal experience. The branch aims
to:
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To investigate the nature and implications of homelessness within
the local Aboriginal communities.
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To facilitate discussion with and among Aboriginal people and
organisations in order to raise awareness about housing/homelessness
issues.
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To review the range of housing and support organisations currently
assisting Aboriginal communities in the state with respect to
dealing with housing/homelessness.
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To identify, where possible, particular solutions or better
practices for delivering support services and reducing the risk of
homelessness for vulnerable Aboriginal people and their communities.
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To provide input into housing/homelessness strategies in South
Australia to ensure that the needs, interests and future well-being
of Aboriginal people and their communities, are effectively
addressed.
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To identify the needs and concerns of Aboriginal homelessness and
housing support workers to ensure these are recognised appropriately
by the employing agencies.
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To maximise the extent to which government, housing bodies,
community and non-government bodies recognize and address Aboriginal
people’s particular housing/homelessness issues through advice,
advocacy, lobbying, research and other appropriate methods.
If anyone is interested in attending a
meeting of the branch or would like to find out more, please contact
Cate Jones by email:
cate.jones@sheltersa.asn.au
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