AHURI has released a report on the Specialist Homelessness Services sector highlighting priorities for Government policy to improve the situation for workers, including reforming the way SHS funds are delivered.
The research investigates what is needed to build a strong specialist homelessness services (SHS) sector workforce that will help people experiencing homelessness to access accommodation and get ongoing support. Low remuneration, short term contracts and competitive funding models are reducing employees’ financial security resulting in experienced staff leaving the specialist homelessness services industry.
The experiences of workers, especially those working in frontline roles, clearly show that the impact of SHS sector work on mental health is significant. Lack of funding, understaffing, placing staff in roles that are beyond their current competency, shift work and vicarious trauma and stress from exposure to distressing situations have the greatest impact on workers’ mental health. Workers are also asked to support clients who experience a range of social, emotional, drug and alcohol, domestic and family violence, cultural, trauma and mental health problems.
I’m sure many of you reading this can agree that SHS workers deserve higher remuneration and ongoing contracts.