Speakers: Change housing policy to end homelessness

People at risk of homelessness should get long-term, stable accommodation to prevent them from becoming institutionalised within the current system.

The call for a change in police was made by international speakers at a conference to support the Simon Community’s Home For Good campaign. Homelessness experts said the system of emergency and short-term accommodation risks keeping people in difficult situations. They said the only way to break the cycle is to introduce policies that provide those affected with long-term, stable accommodation that addresses housing issues first and related issues second.

“A system set up to treat addiction ends up with people remaining in ‘treatment’ for a very long time. Most of the recovery comes after the person is housed,” said Dr Sam Tsemberis of the Pathway to Housing group.