Executive Summary
Research aims and methods
This study involved designing and carrying out a client survey to measure whether and to what extent receiving SAAP services facilitates positive changes in client self-reliance, and to examine what forms this improvement takes for different groups of clients.
The study consisted of the following:
- a review of literature on self-reliance and on tools for measuring it in the context of homelessness;
- consultations with stakeholders, including State SAAP representatives, service providers, peak homelessness organisations and client reference groups;
- a national survey of SAAP clients recruited through services; and
- a set of follow-up, qualitative client case studies.
The survey sample focused on clients who had been known to the service for at least four weeks and had been receiving case management. The survey instrument was developed in consultation with stakeholders and was piloted with clients in two SAAP services in Sydney.
There were 630 respondents from across all the States and Territories, recruited through 75 SAAP-funded services. The sample was broadly representative of the service-user population, bearing in mind that it excluded those with only a brief engagement with services.
The final sample size was 16 per cent smaller than originally intended, partly because the recruitment criteria of receiving case management and being known to the service for more than a few weeks meant that some services did not see sufficient clients during the recruitment period. However, the sample turned out to be large enough for detailed analysis, and included sufficient numbers of important sub-groups, such as Indigenous clients and those from CALD backgrounds.
Survey findings
Periods of homelessness
For many respondents, particularly women escaping domestic violence, the current period of homelessness was the first they had ever experienced. However, almost two-thirds of all respondents had been homeless on more than one occasion, and nearly 10 per cent had experiences of homelessness lasting more than 20 years.
Periods of help
For a significant minority of respondents, SAAP support is not simply crisis intervention but a long-term engagement. More than one-quarter reported getting help for between one and five years. A further six per cent overall (10 per cent of men) reported getting help for five years or more.
Reasons for seeking help
The most common reasons were relationship breakdown, domestic violence, abuse and other relational pressures (particularly for female clients). Money problems, eviction or other loss of accommodation, alcohol or drugs, and mental health problems, were also important factors.
Client views of self-reliance
One of the key findings was that self-reliance was a core value shared by SAAP clients. While the most common prerequisite for ‘getting back on one’s feet’ was accommodation, respondents frequently mentioned resuming some measure of personal control over their lives. Getting a job, having sufficient money and feeling safe were also important, along with children’s wellbeing.
Barriers to self-reliance
Chief among these were the practical problems of lack of money and accommodation. Also frequently mentioned were: relational problems with other people; lack of employment; drug and alcohol problems; depression, stress and other health factors; lack of support; and what clients’ saw as their own negative attitudes.
Progress towards self-reliance
More than two-thirds of respondents said they had moved beyond the halfway point on a 10-point scale of progress, and more than one-third felt they were at point 8 or beyond. Only five per cent said they had made no progress at all. Women reported somewhat better progress than men. The most important factor influencing self-rated outcomes appeared to be the length of time the client had been receiving help from the service.
Nearly three-quarters felt that aspects across all the life domains were either a lot or a little better than before coming to the service. Just over one-quarter felt they were about the same and only a few felt they were worse.
Accommodation was the area where SAAP services had the most impact, not surprisingly. Nearly 90 per cent said that access to accommodation had improved, and the changes in housing tenure reported before and after receiving assistance showed a significant movement away from insecure forms of dwelling towards secure and affordable housing in public and community housing.
Other areas of life where positive effects were identified were those in the ‘coping’ domain, relating to belief in clients’ own ability to get back on one’s feet, and to feelings of safety and security. SAAP services seem to be having a strongly positive effect on clients’ feelings of safety and personal self-confidence. Improved care of and relationships with children also scored highly.
SAAP services appear to be more limited in helping clients find work. They do help some clients access training and education, and act as an important link to income support through Centrelink. This is particularly crucial for women escaping domestic violence, who need an independent source of income.
In terms of gender differences, women seemed to do somewhat better than men, especially at getting paid work and in accessing emotional support or counselling.
There were few differences in service experience by age group, except that the youngest and oldest age groups reported slightly less improvement in getting accommodation than the 25-50 year olds.
What sort of help?
A number of respondents expressed heartfelt gratitude for the help they had received. ‘Accommodation’ was the most frequently mentioned category (as might be expected). Other forms of help included food and basic necessities, indicating levels of poverty in Australia that go beyond the merely relative.
Who else has helped?
Although almost one-quarter reported no other sources of help, 43 per cent mentioned family or friends and nearly half mentioned other services or workers. Clearly, homelessness does not always mean social isolation.
What help is still needed?
Nearly three-fifths thought they would still need help with housing in the future, and almost 55 per cent also mentioned needing further help with ‘coping’, including dealing with stress. Nearly half thought they would need further support maintaining income and employment, and substantial numbers thought they would still need help with relationships and dealing with other organisations like Centrelink.
Employment
Since coming to the SAAP service for help there was a marginal decrease in employment among respondents and a slight increase in unemployment. Most of those who were previously unemployed remained unemployed, but around one-quarter of those looking for work had moved into work, volunteering or study. Five per cent had been in full-time work before they came to the service, but only one-quarter remained in work at the time of the survey. This may be because homelessness was either directly connected with job loss or made it hard for them to retain work. There was also some movement from home duties into study, part-time work and volunteering, indicating that many women who had left home following domestic violence now had to support themselves alone.
Income
There was little change in income sources, but there was an increase in the percentage on Centrelink payments, mainly from those reporting they had previously had no income or income only from family/partners or friends. In many cases these were women who had left violent partners and had to find their own income. This suggests respondents who were starting on the path of financial independence and access to associated services aimed at increasing their job opportunities. This is consistent with the goals of promoting self-reliance.
Case studies
Most of the clients interviewed for the case studies were women for whom domestic violence was a significant factor in bringing them to a SAAP service. Hence they did not fully represent the SAAP clientele as a whole. Nevertheless, the case studies provide useful illustrations of the forms of assistance services provide, and of the impact that it has on recipients.
All were currently receiving income support, but most were engaged in some form of education or training. All were still in regular contact with the program staff and receiving some form of ongoing counselling or personal support.
For most of these participants, self-reliance meant learning how not to be dependent on another significant person, usually their parents and/or partner.
The majority were still receiving subsidised rental housing, and the idea of no longer relying on the program, either through subsidised housing and/or ongoing counselling, was not something they looked forward to with confidence. Some expressed concern about how they would cope when they were no longer receiving SAAP support, especially when it came to finding their own accommodation and employment, and in managing financially.
Lessons from the research
The study provided a positive picture of the extent to which clients felt they had moved towards self-reliance after getting help from SAAP services. Nevertheless, many were still living in temporary accommodation and saw themselves as continuing to need support in the future in a wide range of areas. The factor identified as the strongest positive influence on outcomes was the length of time clients had been getting help from the service. Services may need to put long-term resources into client support to achieve good outcomes, and part of what services provide is the opportunity to recover from difficult circumstances. In this sense, continuing service receipt is not a sign of dependence, but rather a necessary part of the journey towards eventual self-reliance – at least for some clients.
The survey instrument had some methodological limitations, but proved overall to be an effective way of collecting valuable information on client progress towards self-reliance. Some elements would need to be amended if it were to be used in further research, but the core elements could be replicated for a regular data gathering exercise amongst services. The findings of the study were based only on client self-assessment, however. This is an important element of outcome measurement, but it could be complemented with other forms of measurement, including individual assessment by case managers or other service staff, and achievements against personal client goals.