NATIONAL SETTLEME POLICY NETWORK TELECONFERENCE Housing, homelessness and refugee settlement the discussion BACKGROUND REPORT The National Settlement Policy Network (SPN) is a joint initiative of the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) (www.refugeecouncil.org.au) and the Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) (www.scoa.org.au) to enable our members (organisational and individual) to participate in planning joint advocacy on settlement issues. RCOA and SCOA co-host quarterly SPN teleconferences that focus on specific themes. The teleconferences provide an opportunity for members to hear from guest speakers with expertise in particular areas of settlement policy, raise issues of concern and share ideas for ways forward. A SPN teleconference on Housing, homelessness and refugee settlement the discussion was held on Wednesday 7 th December 2011 and provided an opportunity for participants across the country to discuss perspectives on the issues and solutions. This teleconference was intended as a follow-up from the successful 8 November SPN teleconference that featured two presentations on the topic of Housing, homelessness, and refugee settlement (download a report on the November teleconference at www.refugeecouncil.org.au/settlement/spn/111108_spn_report.pdf). The discussions that transpired were guided by questions sent out from the previous teleconference: 1. What are the key concerns for refugee and humanitarian entrants and settlement services with regards to the current housing situation? 2. How could the settlement, housing and homelessness sectors work better together? 3. At a state and federal policy level, what opportunities are there to improve the accessibility to long-term sustainable housing for recently arrived refugee and humanitarian entrants? 4. What local models are working well in terms of housing and homelessness support for new arrivals? DISCUSSION Question 1: What are the key concerns for refugee and humanitarian entrants and settlement services with regards to the current housing situation? There is discrimination in housing. There is an issue with demand and supply and where there is scarce supply, refugee and humanitarian entrants are discriminated against because of considerations such as the size of families, lack of employment and lack of financial security. Refugee and humanitarian entrants experience rejection in the housing market without proper explanation. SPN Housing, homelessness and refugee settlement the discussion (7 December 2011) 1
Lack of public housing to accommodate challenges faced by refugee and humanitarian entrants. For example, criteria of eligibility include combined income of families, and refugee and humanitarian entrants may be prevented from accessing public housing because of this. The social housing system in itself is complicated with massive waiting lists, tight eligibility criteria, and complicated processes compounded by language and literacy barriers where clients who have limited or no English are expected to fill out the forms properly without the use of interpreters. This combines to create an access barrier. The emergency and supported accommodation is limited and unsuitable for clients due to several reasons (e.g. religious, cultural) Housing service providers aren t culturally competent enough to deal with refugee and humanitarian entrants and their particular needs. If clients go to apply at Department of Housing they have difficulties negotiating complicated processes (e.g. not knowing how to answer the questions, being inappropriately assessed as only having moderate need). Identified the need to work closely with other agencies like HSS providers, private liaison officers (people who provide assistance in finding suitable rental properties) and Housing to avoid replication of services. Cheap and available housing stock is located in the northern suburbs of Adelaide but found clients reluctant to move due to several reasons like lack of public transport, safety, and their desire to stay where their community is; also found that single clients are not keen on sharing accommodations for varied reasons. Recognised the importance of building good relationships with real estate agents. Experienced the same problems as with regards to massive waiting lists for social/public housing under Housing. Housing service providers are hesitant delivering services inhibited by their lack of knowledge of refugee and humanitarian entrants and fear. The need for interpreters is invaluable. Service providers are desperate for more information on how to improve service provision (cultural competency). Found that real estate agents didn t like people from non-english speaking backgrounds which represent a bulk of our customer base. We hit brick walls with real estate agents. Provided a comprehensive list of issues and concerns identified from their own forums and included: discrimination, not knowing how to apply for public housing, help needed for completing application forms, maintenance issues (slow process and response), finding appropriate housing (size and proximity), lack of interpreter use, limitation of interpreter services, rent increases, affordability, waiting periods for public housing, eligibility to public housing, keeping houses warm and mould-free and information needed for buying one s own property. Housing continues to be of great interest to DIAC, as it acknowledged the restricted affordable housing market with current Humanitarian Settlement Service (HSS) onshore orientation programs having modules that assist refugees and humanitarian entrants understand their rights and responsibilities in the private rental market. Improvements in HSS means no exit to homelessness policy. The basic core problem is that there simply isn t enough affordable housing stock that until the housing shortage is fixed there will always be rationing. For people on low to moderate incomes, the private market is insecure with people finding their housing threatened due to rent increases and this forces people to move and become vulnerable to homelessness. (Mary Perkins, Shelter ). SPN Housing, homelessness and refugee settlement the discussion (7 December 2011) 2
Question 2: How could the settlement, housing and homelessness sectors work better together? Access to housing stock is highly competitive with the recommendation of more formal discussions and liaison with homelessness organisations, housing service providers and services working with refugee and humanitarian entrants in each of the states to get refugees and humanitarian entrants included in the broader discussions about housing issues. The need to manage client s expectations (the notion that being in first world country and expecting first world housing conditions) that people may have to move to locations they might not have chosen to because housing stock isn t as it should be. Common themes have emerged in each of the States with the need for better coordination and communication among the agencies and service providers. SCOA recognises the need to tap into housing and related networks at both a state and national level with communication and coordination playing a vital role. We need to talk to each other more and meet regularly, including working with real estate agencies better communication between stakeholders. Need to work with real estate agents better explaining the needs of refugees and the benefits to them. The usage of Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National (www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/help-with-english/help_with_translating/) is very important as it helps link clients with real estate agents and the need for them to be aware of this service. Problem identified regarding lack of communication/dissemination of this pilot project to real estate agents. Maintaining and cultivating relationships with real estate agents is key. Suggested caution when advocating for refugees and humanitarian entrants given the high population of Indigenous people to avoid competition between these two groups (real or perceived). Providing concrete steps of providing linkages within the housing sector to keep the voice there like working with agencies (e.g. Shelter), having a place at the homelessness advisory forum, and other advocacy roles. Expand on pilot projects (e.g. interpreters working with real estate agencies) that help deal with real estate agencies while increasing their cultural competencies through the use of housing officers in settlement agencies. Recognises the need for the involvement of the multicultural sector in the housing sector and other mainstream services, not necessarily establishing CALD-specific networks. Noted the importance of the TIS pilot program and would feed the information to the appropriate department (DIAC). Question 3: At a state and federal policy level, what opportunities are there to improve the accessibility to long-term sustainable housing for recently arrived refugee and humanitarian entrants? Giving money like private and bond assistance through the private rental market may work with other groups, but not necessarily for humanitarian and refugee arrivals due to intersectional SPN Housing, homelessness and refugee settlement the discussion (7 December 2011) 3
issues (e.g. coping with high prices with limited income). Need more public/social housing on the agenda. The sector should join the national group Australians for Affordable Housing (http://housingstressed.org.au) in arguing for housing supply for low income households which would add the refugee and humanitarian entrants voice to this important network. Calling for case studies and enhances media coverage. (Mary Perkins, Shelter ) 1. People need secure housing up front and should link arguments and evidence about the importance of housing (education, health, and other benefits) and pool these in a solid methodology (through use of researchers) to tell their story. 2. Problems regarding housing are faced by all Australians in low income households with everyone in competition with each other. 3. Refugees and humanitarian entrants move to Australia with a need to be stable for a while finding the initial period of assistance far too short. Issues that have been raised are consistent with the National Homelessness Strategy (www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/housing/progserv/homelessness/nhs/pages/default.aspx) we have the policy goals, but we don t have the resources to meet these goals. We need to continue to build the data and evidence base. There was a need to identify systemic issues and gaps and escalating them finding it more cost-effective in general for people to be living in a stable accommodation than without one. SCOA have a survey that will gather data on this issue please respond to this so that SCOA can take the evidence up to a national level (e.g. forums such as Australians for Affordable Housing) Shared advocacy puts a multicultural aspect to the reports and conferences and networks that exist. Would like to see more feedback and data on clients after they exit from HSS programs through direct contact with clients and their experiences in the program, which will flow through as time progresses. We are improving our client feedback mechanisms so we can get the evidence from clients directly (DIAC). A glaring gap is that there is no social or community housing available, so there is an opportunity. Question 4: What local models are working well in terms of housing and homelessness support for new arrivals? There have been good models where real estate agents have worked well with the different agencies. This has to happen very locally. Tenancy Guarantee (http://tinyurl.com/7cae3eo) is used in which acts as extra bond money and adds security for real estate agents considering tenants such as those without a rental history or with larger families. Suggestion identifying vacant property in local areas, working out why it is vacant and how it can be brought online to meet the needs of refugee clients. E.g. some properties are vacant for long periods of time (even years) while going through development approval, and there could be opportunities for negotiating for it to be used in the meantime. Example of 22 flats in Bondi that were left unused while the property developer waited for approval; these flats could have been used. SPN Housing, homelessness and refugee settlement the discussion (7 December 2011) 4
Good models involving refugee community groups e.g. Bhutanese and Afghan communities in helping and supporting each other to find housing. There are some lessons from this, but it works well when also supported by agencies such as the MRC. Communities need to be part of these conversations directly. A model is being developed working with a local council who has CALD volunteers who are going to be utilised in assisting refugees in the private rental market through: o Computer literacy skills; o Working with community centre; o Information sessions in college targeted at students from newly arrived backgrounds. Housing converts smaller units into bigger ones to house larger families this is a huge success. Early engagement and intervention to help families find appropriate accommodation. Engaging bi-cultural workers who negotiate issues during tenancy. Empowerment of communities, building relationships with them and sharing of skills, employing bi-cultural housing workers. Housing Working Group of the Tasmanian Settlement Network (http://tinyurl.com/8ay4txw) has been established which includes community members and service providers which builds positive relationships with relevant services (Real Estate Institute, Housing Tasmania, and real estate agents) includes cultural awareness and building positive relationships. Community empowerment is important. VIC Issues for asylum seekers in the community could be replicated or lessons shared with settlement sector more broadly. One good model is the Sanctuary Model used by Baptcare (http://tinyurl.com/76n75g8) a supported accommodation model for unaccompanied adult men with intensive case management. Asylum seekers are often left out of housing considerations. CONCLUSION AND RECCOMMENDATIONS Issues around housing and finding suitable accommodation may vary across the states but one issue remains housing stock simply isn t sufficient to meet the demands of Australians, including refugees and humanitarian entrants who are particularly vulnerable to the housing and accommodation crisis due to intersectional issues. Key recommendations include: Forming partnerships between the settlement and housing sectors at both state and national levels to create dialogue which involves developing an evidence base and ensuring the voices of refugee and humanitarian entrants are heard. The need for culturally appropriate services that deal with this particular group on both a local and state level. Better coordination between housing agencies and settlement service providers. SPN Housing, homelessness and refugee settlement the discussion (7 December 2011) 5