Common Ground Sydney opened on 15 November 2011 and is Australia’s third project based on the Common Ground model. Common Ground Sydney accommodates formerly chronically homeless people and people on low to moderate incomes in a socially integrated housing complex in inner Sydney. According to Housing NSW, Common Ground Sydney was initiated as part of a coordinated government response to homelessness and the Australian Government’s 2008 commitment to reduce the number of people sleeping rough by 25% by the year 2013. It aims to respond to high levels of homelessness and rough sleeping in the inner city of Sydney and to promote a model of ‘Street to Home’ housing coupled with support services.

Project Collaborators External

• Dr Shannon McDermott School of Social Sciences, UNSW
• Dr Jane Bullen Social Policy and Research Centre, UNSW
• Dr Kristy Muir Social Policy and Research Centre, UNSW
• Professor Hal Pawson City Futures Research Centre, UNSW
• Judith Stubbs Judith Stubbs and Associates
• John Storer Judith Stubbs and Associates

Project Supporters

Department of Family and Community Services - Housing NSW

The purpose of the evaluation is to assess Common Ground Sydney’s effectiveness in facilitating sustainable housing for vulnerable, formerly chronically homeless people, many of whom have spent long periods sleeping rough. The evaluation aims to inform future planning and contribute to the evidence of what works to house this group. The evaluation of Common Ground Sydney will gather, collate and analyse data to measure progress towards the critical components of the Project.

Design and Method

• Stream 1: Resident outcomes - incorporating housing, health, mental health, social and economic outcomes for formerly homeless tenants.
• Stream 2: Structure and process of service delivery - including the physical design of the building, the tenancy management and support provider partnerships; impact and relationships with other stakeholders and service providers.
• Stream 3: Total costs and benefits - of Common Ground Sydney compared to other responses to homelessness, and compared to other Common Ground Projects across Australia. Where possible, calibrating the cost effectiveness of the project/approach, will also involve assessing the reduction or avoidance of costs incurred across NSW Government agencies, or other organisations as a result of entry into the project.

Progress/Update

Baseline and 12-month findings have been delivered to Housing NSW.

Benefits

This project will contribute to a comprehensive evidence base to inform future service planning and resource allocation for homelessness services in NSW.

Baseline and 12-month findings have been delivered to Housing NSW.

Presentations:

Whittaker, E.*, Schollar-Root, O.*, Burns, L. 2014. Housing is the first step: Preliminary findings from two ‘Housing First’ evaluations. Presented at the NDARC in house seminar, Sydney, NSW, July 10th 2014.

Whittaker, E.* 2014. Research with individuals who are chronically homeless. Presented at the 2014 NDARC Annual Research Symposium, Sydney, NSW, September 8th 2014.

Whittaker, E.* & Burns, L. 2014. Homes for Sydney’s homeless: Findings of two ‘Housing First’ initiatives. Presented at The Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) 2014, Adelaide, SA, November 9th-12th 2014.

Whittaker, E. & Burns, L.* 2014. The association between substance use and housing amongst people who inject drugs. Presented at The Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) 2014, Adelaide, SA, November 9th-12th 2014.