We have established the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Responses in Housing and Homelessness Settings Grants to build the capability of housing and homelessness service providers to respond to and support Queenslanders experiencing AOD related concerns.
The grant aligns with the strategic intent of Achieving balance: The Queensland Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategic Plan 2022-2027 (Achieving balance).
Why is this important?
The Queensland Government recognises that safe and secure housing is a key social determinant of health.
While the majority of people who use AOD don’t experience issues related to housing, poor housing, adverse living conditions, stress and trauma of housing instability or homelessness can increase the likelihood of experiencing AOD concerns. Likewise, AOD concerns can increase the risk associated with housing instability and people with AOD concerns can experience barriers to accessing housing and health supports when engaging with the housing sector.
Enhancing workforce capability, organisational systems, processes, policy and practice will improve the housing service accessibility for people with AOD concerns and ultimately improve health and wellbeing outcomes.
About the grants
The Queensland Government is investing $1.5 million to fund initiatives that improve the experience of Queenslanders with AOD concerns, when accessing housing and homelessness supports.
The grants are administered by the Commission and open to eligible Queensland-based, not-for-profit, non-government organisations.
Grant objectives
Eligible applicants will be able to apply for up to $500,000 for initiatives and activities that:
- reduce barriers to people who use AOD accessing housing and homelessness services, including by improving organisational policies and practices
- improve access to health supports for people who use AOD and are in housing support services
- improve ability of people who use AOD and are experiencing or at risk of homelessness to achieve sustainable tenancies
- facilitate shared understanding and approaches across housing and AOD systems of care
- reduce stigma, discrimination and attitudes towards AOD use within the housing and homelessness sector.
How to apply
Apply online via SmartyGrants at https://qmhc.smartygrants.com.au.
Applications open: Monday 30 September 2024
Applications close: 5pm AEST, Monday 28 October 2024
Briefing session: Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 10.00am – 11.00am. Register here.
Resources:
Next steps
If you’re interested in applying for an AOD Responses in Housing and Homelessness Settings grant, apply online via SmartyGrants. A public briefing session will be held on Wednesday, 9 October 2024 to assist you with your application.
Further information
For more information, please contact our Senior Business Support Officer (Procurement and Grants) on 1300 855 945, or email contracts@qmhc.qld.gov.au.
Partnership
Collaborative partnerships between health and social services, businesses, relevant industries, peak organisations, and/or Commonwealth, state and local governments, are encouraged to enhance the impact of the grants.
How does this support reform?
The grants program supports implementation of key actions under Achieving balance that commit the Queensland Government to improving capability across systems to support people who use AOD.
Achieving balance puts into action the Queensland Government’s commitment to prevent and reduce problematic use of alcohol and other drugs.
The strategic priorities in Achieving balance reflect the far-reaching effects of problematic alcohol and drug use, and the important contribution that a wide range of government agencies and the non-government and private sectors can make to achieve better outcomes for individuals, families, communities and the system.
Under ‘Priority 3 – Expanding Diversion’ of Achieving balance, the Queensland Government has committed to ‘increase availability of health responses for people experiencing problematic alcohol and other drugs use across the service system, including housing and domestic and family violence services’.
The AOD Responses in Housing and Homelessness Settings Grants program, progresses this action.
Achieving balance guides Queensland’s effort to achieve greater balance across the three pillars of harm minimisation over the next five years. Harm minimisation incorporates harm reduction, demand reduction and supply reduction, and is a balanced and comprehensive approach that has featured in Australian drug strategies since 1985.
