Holbrooks Homelessness Program policy

The Holbrooks homelessness program provides short term accommodation and support to people who are or have been rough sleeping across Metropolitan Adelaide. People approved for this program are provided accommodation of up to 90 days with on-site and outreach support to assist them to transition from homelessness into longer term housing at the end of the program.

The program provides client tailored support, including attentive tenancy management, responsive and personalised case management, as well as access to programs that help enhance their skills and capabilities, including clinical support.

The program is delivered in partnership between the South Australian Housing Trust, Towards Home Alliance, Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance and the Central Adelaide Local Health Network – Integrated Care.

This policy sets out who is eligible for the program and how tenancies are managed.

Eligibility

A customer may be nominated for the Holbrooks homelessness program if they meet all the below criteria:

they are experiencing rough sleeping across metropolitan Adelaide
are currently actively case managed by Towards Home Alliance or Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance
they’re eligible for public housing
they are over the age of 25
are single or partnered without children

Some exceptions to the criteria may be considered on an individual basis.

Nominations

Towards Home Alliance and Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance case managers nominate their current case managed customers that meet the Holbrooks homelessness program eligibility.

Representatives from Towards Home Alliance, Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance, Central Adelaide Local Health Network and the South Australian Housing Trust meet regularly to consider nominations and identify the most suitable candidates for the program.

Once candidates are agreed, the relevant Case Manager will organise a meeting for the customer to meet with the Tenancy Officer and the Case Manager to discuss what the program is and the requirements for engagement in the program. If suitable, customers are then offered housing in the program.

Managing tenancies

Customers are housed on a short fixed term lease agreement for 30 days. They may be offered further short fixed term lease agreements of 30 days at a time up to a maximum 90 days.

South Australian Housing Trust manage the property and the tenancy including:

setting, charging, and reviewing rent in line with the Rent policy
undertaking regular tenancy visits
managing any tenancy or property issues, for example antisocial behaviour, property damage or rent arrears.

Customers in the program are provided with a fully furnished property. Customers can take these items at the conclusion of their tenancy.

Tenancy Officer and support staff regularly attend the Holbrooks site throughout the tenancy.

Integrated Care Nurse consultants provide regular on site clinical support and advocacy services to customers in the program.

Case management and care coordination

Customers work with their Towards Home Alliance or Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance case manager throughout the tenancy.

Case managers provide onsite support tailored to the customers needs including:

Financial counselling and referral
Domestic and Family Violence support and referral
Alcohol and other drug support and referral
General counselling
Community development activities.

Case managers also work with customers to develop a housing plan. The aim of the housing plan is to:

identify housing needs
identify housing preferences
explore longer term housing options
exit pathways for customer when they leave the Holbrooks homelessness program.

Case Manager supports the customer with moving to new housing and provides support to them beyond the end of the Holbrooks homelessness program which may include nominating the customer for the Integrated Homelessness program.

Related information

Controlling documents

This policy is based on and complies with:

South Australian Housing Trust Act 1995
Residential Tenancies Act 1995

Supporting documents

Holbrooks homelessness program procedures

Date this policy applies from

2/10/2024