Young Aboriginal people leaving state care will soon be taking their next steps towards personal independence with the support of a new partnership between the SA Housing Authority and two leading Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO).
SAHA is providing 15 properties over the next three years to Aboriginal Community Housing Limited to deliver its Supported Independent Living Service (SILS) program, Skillin’ It.
Via mentor support, Skillin’ It assists young Aboriginal people, aged 16 to 18, who are leaving care to develop independent living skills including budgeting, shopping, cooking and self-care.
SAHA will lease up to five two and three-bedroom homes to ACHL each year, over the next three years in metropolitan Adelaide. It is anticipated that up to 20 Aboriginal young people will benefit from the program each year.
Human Services Minister Nat Cook said that nation-wide, Aboriginal people were over-represented across the homelessness system and the state’s Aboriginal Housing Strategy aims to ensure those leaving institutions have pathways into stable and safe housing.
AFSS is leading work to strengthen Aboriginal communities to keep them safe, strong and connected to culture in the family home or while they are in ‘out of home care’ which include the SILS program.
ACHL provides culturally appropriate tenancy and property management to Tika Tirka, a student accommodation and residential support service in Adelaide and manages properties in the Employment and Education Housing program in partnership with AFSS.
As put by Nat Cook
We know that young people leaving care are one of our community’s most vulnerable groups of people. They often may not have had the chance to develop life skills that will help them in their daily lives – skills like looking after a home, meal preparation and shopping.
This partnership between the Authority, AFFS and ACHL means many more young people will be able to transition to independence with support and security that will give them the confidence and self-belief Setting young people up for success reduces the risk of homelessness.
Skillin’ It is part of our vision to ensure Aboriginal people in South Australia have access to safe, secure and affordable homes achieved through shared decision-making and culturally informed services that maintain Aboriginal peoples’ personal and cultural wellbeing.
As put by Ian Cox, Head, Homelessness Sector Integration at SA Housing Authority
This partnership reaffirms a strong commitment to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap Priority Reforms.
We are determined to deliver a strong and inclusive housing system that delivers on community expectations and this latest initiative, built on strong partnerships and shared decision making with the community led organisations, will ensure young Aboriginal people have a positive journey out of State care and into a new home.
As put by AFSS Senior Manager Residential Care Shane Catterall
The AFSS SILS program is working to provide the best pathway for Aboriginal Young People leaving care, we want to provide the opportunity for the Young People involved in the program to have not only life skills, but a solid place in their community, reachable goals around education and employment and a strong connection to their culture.
AFSS are not the only service providing SILS in South Australia, however we are the only ACCO providing this service and to our knowledge the only service that offers the young people stable housing for a period of time once they turn 18. This ensures that there is a level of stability and ongoing support through the initial change to ‘post care’ supports.
We want to see Young People living full and enriched lives into adulthood with a skill set and knowledge for anything they come up against.
As put by ACHL National Manager Stacey Broadbent
ACHL’s goal is to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have access to safe and sustainable housing. Through the SILS program, this will be achieved by working in partnership with AFSS to ensure young Aboriginal people start their journey into adulthood with a roof over their head and skills that will assist them throughout their life journey.
Having a stable, affordable, accessible home is fundamental to living a good and fulfilled life. ACHL is proud to be a partner in this unique initiative for vulnerable young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who will have a wonderful opportunity to acquire skills towards independent living in a culturally appropriate home. This next chapter into their lives of becoming independent, while learning about themselves is exciting.
