Safe and secure housing is not just about having a roof over your head, it is also about providing appropriate support that addresses the complex reasons some people experience housing instability and homelessness.
Supportive housing is an evidence-based approach that integrates social housing, tenancy management and support services to meet an array of health and psychosocial needs.
Why is this important?
Access to safe, secure and affordable housing is closely linked with good mental health and wellbeing. Housing pressures across Queensland have seen an increase in people experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness, which can exacerbate and/or contribute to experiences of mental ill-health and/or alcohol and other drug concerns.
People with lived-living experience of mental ill-health and/or alcohol and other drug concerns are at greater risk of experiencing housing instability and homelessness. However, evidence indicates that people with complex needs can achieve long-term housing stability when secure housing is provided with the right supports.
What we did
As part of our role to drive reform, we have explored contemporary and evidence-based housing solutions to identify opportunities to better support people with lived-living experience of mental ill-health and/or alcohol and other drug concerns. This process has included consultation with a broad range of mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and housing and homelessness service providers, as well as people with lived-living experience.
The Commission’s position statement More than a roof identifies supportive housing as a best practice approach to reduce housing instability and homelessness for people with complex needs. It also sets out recommendations for reform to ensure that health and housing services are better integrated and tailored to meet the needs of people with lived-living experience of mental ill-health and/or alcohol and other drug concerns in Queensland.
What we found
Supportive housing is a place-based approach and designed to meet the needs of the community in which it is located. Types of supportive housing include high density sites; low-medium density sites; and scattered sites utilising individual social housing properties.
For people with lived-living experience of mental ill-health and/or alcohol and other drug concerns, research indicates that permanent supportive housing reduces experiences of homelessness, increases housing tenure over time, and results in fewer interactions with the health system.
Supportive housing has also been found to be cost-effective for the system by reducing use of public resources across health, criminal justice and homelessness support services.
How does this support reform?
Recognising the critical link between housing and mental health and wellbeing, Shifting minds 2023–2028 outlines actions to enhance access to housing, and prevent and reduce the impacts of homelessness. This includes exploring solutions that incorporate diverse models of integrated housing, support, tenancy management and long-term tenancy sustainment for people experiencing mental ill-health and/or alcohol and other drug concerns.
In our position statement, we have identified several opportunities to help drive reform, including:
-
investing in supportive housing for people with lived-living experience of mental ill-health and/or alcohol and other drug concerns
-
enabling evidence-based and data-driven planning, design and practice
-
strengthening shared leadership and cross-sector collaboration
-
improving transitions and preventing exits into homelessness.
Next steps
The Commission is committed to working with government and sector partners to improve housing access and reduce the impacts of homelessness. Collective action is critical to working towards safe and secure housing that facilitates social inclusion, treatment and recovery, and that prevent discharges and exits into homelessness.
We will continue to explore options to enhance access to housing and prevent and reduce the impacts of homelessness. If you have any ideas, evidence, or additional feedback that could inform future work, please contact us at: info@qmhc.qld.gov.au
