COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS

PROJECT BACKGROUND

2001 the NSW Government established a new 2001 the NSW Government established a new

funding program known as the Community funding program known as the Community

Solutions Fund.Solutions Fund.

To assist community development and crime To assist community development and crime

prevention initiatives in high need communities prevention initiatives in high need communities

across NSW.across NSW.

Kings Cross being highlighted as one such area.Kings Cross being highlighted as one such area.

BACKGROUND CONT..

February 2003 announced that funds would be February 2003 announced that funds would be allocated over two years to:allocated over two years to:

‘‘Help older youth who have become involved Help older youth who have become involved in high risk Kings Cross lifestyle. The focus in high risk Kings Cross lifestyle. The focus being on coordinating services, working with being on coordinating services, working with youth in crisis and ensuring service availability youth in crisis and ensuring service availability after hours.’after hours.’

BACKGROUND CONT..

The Community Solutions Steering Committee The Community Solutions Steering Committee (Kings Cross) was established to oversee the (Kings Cross) was established to oversee the projectproject

In late 2003 this committee undertook a review In late 2003 this committee undertook a review of services for young people at risk (12 – 25 of services for young people at risk (12 – 25 years) in the broader Kings Cross area.years) in the broader Kings Cross area.

BACKGROUND CONT…

The review focused on – The review focused on –

1.1. Increased collaboration between existing servicesIncreased collaboration between existing services

2.2. Joint venturesJoint ventures

3.3. Pooled fundingPooled funding

The report recommended the remaining Community The report recommended the remaining Community Solutions funding be allocated over two years to Solutions funding be allocated over two years to support the Kings Cross Youth At Risk Project.support the Kings Cross Youth At Risk Project.

BACKGROUNDCONT…

SESIH auspiced the projectSESIH auspiced the project

The SESIH Area Youth Health Coordinator administers The SESIH Area Youth Health Coordinator administers the project and manages the budgetthe project and manages the budget

The project coordinator is based at the Kirketon Road The project coordinator is based at the Kirketon Road CentreCentre

I

THREE AIMS

• Establish Kings Cross Outreach Coordination Committee

• Conduct Joint Outreach Sweeps

• Establish a Brokerage Program

COORDINATION TIER

P a rticip a ting O rg a n isa tio ns P a rticip a ting O rg a n isa tio ns P a rticip a ting O rg a n isa tio ns P a rticip a ting O rg a n isa tio ns

K in g s C ro ss O utre a ch C oo rd ina tio n C o m m ittee

K in g s C ro ss C o m m u n ity S o lu tio n s C o o rd in a to r

K in g s C ro ss C o m m u nity S o lu tio ns S tee rin g C o m m ittee

COORDINATION

A joint Kings Cross Outreach Coordination A joint Kings Cross Outreach Coordination Committee has been established consisting of Committee has been established consisting of government and non-government outreach government and non-government outreach service providers service providers

The Kings Cross Outreach Coordination The Kings Cross Outreach Coordination Committee is responsible for improved Committee is responsible for improved coordination between outreach providers in coordination between outreach providers in the Kings Cross areathe Kings Cross area

PARTICIPATING AGENCIES

THE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS (KINGS CROSS) OUTREACH THE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS (KINGS CROSS) OUTREACH COORDINATION COMMITTEE, REPRESENTED BY:COORDINATION COMMITTEE, REPRESENTED BY:

• The CrossingThe Crossing

• The Come In CentreThe Come In Centre

• Kings Cross Adolescent UnitKings Cross Adolescent Unit

• Oasis Youth Support NetworkOasis Youth Support Network

• JNCJNC

•Salvation Army - SOSSalvation Army - SOS

• Kirketon Road CentreKirketon Road Centre

• The Wayside ChapelThe Wayside Chapel

• Rough EdgesRough Edges

• PEIPODPEIPOD

• SWOPSWOP

•MSICMSIC

OUTREACH SWEEPS

Regular joint outreach sweeps have been Regular joint outreach sweeps have been conducted across the broader Kings conducted across the broader Kings Cross area involving staff from a number Cross area involving staff from a number of outreach services.of outreach services.

The aim of the sweeps was to gather The aim of the sweeps was to gather standardised data on the number, age, standardised data on the number, age, needs and locations of youth in the area needs and locations of youth in the area to assist future planning and outreach to assist future planning and outreach operations.operations.

SWEEP FINDINGS

The following data analysis is from the Outreach Sweeps performed over twelve Saturday evenings monthly from September 2005 – August 2006.

A total of 248 surveys were completed.

There were an average of five refusals per evening.

AGE ANALYSIS

1

23

224

0 50 100 150 200 250

12-15yrs

16-17yrs

18-25yrs

GENDER

146

101

1

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Male

Female

Transgender

ABORIGINAL / TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER

11

75

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Yes

No

HOME BY REGION

Home by Region

34

12 14

71

6 513 12

71

10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

KingsCross

Interstate EasternSuburbs

Inner City NorthernBeaches

Overseas CentralCoast

SouthernSuburbs

WesternSuburbs

CountryNSW

Num

ber o

f clie

nts

(n=2

48)

NIGHTS IN CROSS

106

122118

138 136

180

149

119

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Day of Week

All Monday Tuesday WednesdayThursday Friday Saturday Sunday

ACCOMMODATION TONIGHT

55

34

29

46

30

20

4

30

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Friends Street/Homeless Parents Rental House Boarding House/hostel Shelter/refuge Own House Unsure

Series2

AGENCIES ACCESSED

75

91

16

71

35

63

11

66

10

51

0

20

40

60

80

100

Agency

Oasis KRC HATSOS Wayside Chapel

Come In Centre K2 The Crossing Rough Edges

SWOP SOS

TIME ANALYSIS

0

5

10

15

20

25

8pm - 9pm 9pm - 10pm 10pm - 11pm 11pm - 12am 12am - 1am 1am - 2am 2am - 3am

Time period

No

. se

en

WHY IN CROSS

115

39

48

25

811

2

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Activity

No

. of c

lien

ts

Social/Hang Out Sex Work Drug Related activity Access Services Live Here Work (Other) Other

BROKERAGE FUNDS

A Kings Cross Youth At Risk Brokerage Fund A Kings Cross Youth At Risk Brokerage Fund has been established to support individuals has been established to support individuals move off the streets through direct and move off the streets through direct and individualised brokerage packages.individualised brokerage packages.

The Brokerage Fund can be used to support The Brokerage Fund can be used to support actions and initiatives not available through actions and initiatives not available through other services other services

BROKERAGE USAGE

Between July 2005 and July 2007 806 Between July 2005 and July 2007 806 brokerage applications have been approved brokerage applications have been approved and administered.and administered.

A total of 368 individuals received financial A total of 368 individuals received financial assistance through the scheme.assistance through the scheme.

TYPE OF BROKERAGE

Type of Brokerage

519

274

13

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

emergency

case managed

project

Series1

BROKERAGE REQUIRED

271

131

51

41

30

49

56

108

38

31

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Food

Emergency Accommodation

Medical support

Educational Pursuits

Bond (Housing set up)

Material (Housing set up)

Transport/Out of area

Transport/In area

Rent payments

Other

Series1

AGE OF APPLICANTSAge

736

763

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

12-15yrs 16-17yrs 18-25yrs

Series1

GENDER BREAKDOWNGender

Male

Female

350

360

370

380

390

400

410

420

Male Female

AGENCY APPLICATIONSAgencies Accessed

125

216

123

14

95

2

164

817 21

0

50

100

150

200

250

Agency

Oasis KRC SOS Wayside Chapel Come In Centre

HATSOS The Crossing Rough Edges SWOP PEIPOD

WITH THANKS TO:

THE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS (KINGS CROSS) STEERING THE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS (KINGS CROSS) STEERING COMMITTEE, REPRESENTED BY:COMMITTEE, REPRESENTED BY:

• South East Sydney Illawarra Area Health ServiceSouth East Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service

• Department of Community ServicesDepartment of Community Services

• Department of HousingDepartment of Housing

• Oasis Youth Support NetworkOasis Youth Support Network

• Kirketon Road CentreKirketon Road Centre

• Sydney City CouncilSydney City Council

• Kings Cross PoliceKings Cross Police

WITH THANKS TO:

THE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS (KINGS CROSS) OUTREACH THE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS (KINGS CROSS) OUTREACH COORDINATION COMMITTEE, REPRESENTED BY:COORDINATION COMMITTEE, REPRESENTED BY:

• The CrossingThe Crossing

• The Come In CentreThe Come In Centre

• Kings Cross Adolescent UnitKings Cross Adolescent Unit

• Oasis Youth Support NetworkOasis Youth Support Network

• JNCJNC

•MSICMSIC

• Kirketon Road CentreKirketon Road Centre

• The Wayside ChapelThe Wayside Chapel

• Rough EdgesRough Edges

• PEIPODPEIPOD

• SWOPSWOP

•Salvation Army SOSSalvation Army SOS

FOR MORE INFORMATION

PROJECT COORDINATOR

CINDI PETERSEN

(02) 9357 1299 / 0405 086 958cindi.petersen@sesiahs.health.ns

w.gov.au