Meeting national information needs on homelessness: Partnerships in developing, collecting and reporting

homelessness services statistics

Geoff NeideckAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare

IAOS 2014

2

Background

• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare• National housing and homelessness reforms– National Affordable Housing Agreement– National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness

• Improved evidence base and performance measures

• Transition from SAAP NDC to Specialist Homelessness Services Collection

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The Challenge• Develop new homelessness services NMDS– Client-based data– Needs > services > outcomes model

• Develop national performance indicators• Develop new client management system• Very tight timetable from October 2010– SHSC to commence 1 July 2011– Sector consultations, system rollout , training

Accommodation services

44

SHSC data model

Clients Services Outcomes

Demographics

Housing status

EmploymentEducation/training

Income

Homelessness history

Client needs

AccommodationSpecial needsOther services

Referrals

Unmet needs

Housing status

EmploymentEducation/training

Income

Repeat homelessness

Pathways to housing

Who is seeking services?

What assistance is provided?

What were the outcomes for clients?

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Building strong partnerships

Various stakeholders: • Australian Commonwealth• State and Territory departments• NGOs (homeless service providers)• Homelessness peak bodies• Private sector suppliers and consultants

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Partnership 1AIHW and governments

State and Territory arrangements: • AIHW undertaking data collection directly

from service providers• Superior quality data – consistent data

collection and validation• Economies achieved through centralised

processing

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Partnership 2AIHW and private sector

Information systems provider: • State/territory governments supported

client management system (CMS)• AIHW engaged to supply CMS• Company focus on social justice to

strengthen community organisations through information technology

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Specialist Homelessness Information Platform (SHIP)

• AIHW developed business and functionality specifications in consultation

• SHIP requirements1. data collection tool for monthly

homelessness collection2. client need assessment, case management,

monitoring client outcomes, real-time reports

Accommodation services

99

Person homeless orat risk

SHS service provider

(NGO)

SHIP(Web-based information

system)

Government

Researchers

Peak bodies

SHOR(Web Portal)

Statistics and reports

Publications CURFS & data cubes National performance

indicators

SHSC data flow

Client details Client details pluscase worker notes

SHSC data extractAgency

summaryreports

AIHW

SHSC – improved evidence base

• 59% female, 41% male• Over half aged 18–44 (55%)• Over a quarter (27%) under 18 years• 15% aged under 10 • More females in all age groups

except those aged under 10• Similar numbers in youngest and

oldest age groups (under 14 or 55 and over)

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0–9

10–14

15–17

18–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

55–64

65+

Clients (Number)

40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000

Males FemalesAge group (years)

SHS Clients by age and sex, 2012‒13

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SHIP user satisfaction• 78% agreed SHIP is an effective way to collect SHS data.• 75% agreed they are satisfied with SHIP (15 % neutral –

neither satisfied or dissatisfied)

SHIP assists me to case manage my clients

SHIP is an effective way to collect SHS data

I am satisfied with SHIP

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

62%

78%

75%

21%

13%

15%

13%

8%

10%

5%

1%

0%

Agree Neutral Disagree Don't know

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Partnership benefits

• Securing continued supply of high quality data

• Development of more relevant and richer evidence base on homelessness services

• Ensuring business continuity in CMS for minimal cost to NGOs

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Partnership success factors

• Maintaining independence of data agency in providing objective advice

• Working closely with policy makers at early stages and throughout the process

• Engaging private sector suppliers - drawing on expertise

• Embedding data collection in data providers business processes