The McGowan Government has awarded $6.8 million to Noongar Mia Mia Pty Ltd to deliver the first Housing First Support Service as part of the $34.5 million Housing First Homelessness Initiative.
To be delivered by a consortium led by Noongar Mia Mia Pty Ltd over five years, the contract is the latest to be awarded under the evidence-based Housing First Homelessness Initiative, which will house provide stable accommodation to rough sleepers rough sleepers as well as the necessary wraparound supports to keep them in that housing long-term.
It comes after Ruah Community Services was appointed the co-ordinating agency - or 'backbone' - of the initiative late last year. They have been working with communities and training them in Housing First principles, to improve data collection and encourage collaborations such as the consortium awarded the Housing First Support Service contract announced today.
The ACCO partnership brings together the strengths of Noongar Mia Mia, Wungening Aboriginal Corporation and Ngalla Maya Aboriginal Corporation under one banner, to provide culturally appropriate assertive outreach, case management and after-hours support for individuals and families sleeping rough across the Perth metropolitan area.
The Aboriginal Housing First Support Service called Moorditj Mia, which means 'Strong Home', is a targeted investment that is designed to support individuals and families sleeping rough through a culturally led approach. It will also expand capacity for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver services in Western Australia longer-term.
The new service will link people who are sleeping rough with appropriate wraparound support services, including accommodation, employment, health, mental health, financial management, and social support.
In recognition of Aboriginal peoples' over representation among those experiencing homelessness, the State Government is committed - through its All Paths Lead to a Home: Western Australia's 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020-2030 - to increasing the number of ACCOs capable of delivering specialist homelessness services.
ACCOs have the cultural authority to deliver effective services within Aboriginal communities and the McGowan Government is prioritising self-determination as a key part of the Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy.
As stated by Community Services Minister Simone McGurk:
"The announcement of the Moorditj Mia service contract is an important milestone in the State Government's ongoing work to partner with Aboriginal people to deliver appropriate services to communities.
"Taking a culturally informed approach to addressing homelessness, and ensuring services are delivered with a view to supporting self-determination, are key to our ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for Aboriginal Western Australians and rough sleepers.
"These organisations and their staff have a deep and holistic understanding of the challenges that many Aboriginal people experiencing homelessness face.
"The State Government acknowledges the over representation of Aboriginal people among rough sleepers, and the appointment of this Noongar Mia Mia-led consortium under the Housing First Homelessness Initiative signals our intent to build the reach and capacity of ACCOs to deliver services."
