The Role of Assertive Outreach in Ending ‘Rough Sleeping’
A recent study by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) sought to examine how assertive outreach has been conceptualized and implemented in practice in Australia, and the extent to which it is achieving its policy intent. It did this by drawing on evidence from policy-makers, service providers and service users, through three case studies in Sydney, Brisbane and Darwin.
In Sydney and Brisbane, assertive outreach involves the deliberate and strategic attempt to end a person’s homelessness. It is usually presented as a model to achieve sustainable solutions to homelessness through a Housing First philosophy. Assertive outreach draws from previous approaches by involving street based outreach, but also follow up outreach in the home (similar to supported housing or tenancy management). A distinguishing feature is its use of multi-disciplinary teams, access to specialist health professionals and availability of permanent stable housing. However in Darwin, assertive outreach is aimed at addressing anti-social behavior and a return to country (for Indigenous people who have home communities in other settlements) rather than ending homelessness and so does not have this same approach.
Attached below is the study in full.
Available Downloads
- AHURI_Final_Report_No179.pdf - (771kb)