Evaluation of 50 Lives 50 Homes

The 50 Lives 50 Homes (50 Lives) project is the first Housing First program in Western Australia, and one of the first in Australia. 50 Lives is a collective impact initiative aiming to provide long-term housing and support to the most vulnerable individuals and families rough sleeping in Perth.

The collaborative includes over 30 different organisations in Perth (with backbone support from Ruah Community Services), including homelessness services, housing agencies, health providers, and mental health and community services.

To date, over 250 people have been housed through the 50 Lives program. The Home2Health Team has been involved in the evaluation of 50 Lives since 2016. The evaluation findings clearly demonstrate the impact of the project on housing, health, social and justice outcomes. Three comprehensive evaluation reports have been published, and these have been widely used and cited, including most recently by the Australian Productivity Commission, and in Western Australia’s 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020-2030.

Evaluation of 20 Lives 20 Homes

The 20 Lives 20 Homes (20 Lives) project, commenced in 2019 and is the first place-based trial of the 50 Homes 50 Lives Housing First model in the metropolitan area, based in Fremantle. The St Patrick’s 20 Lives team work alongside Ruah, Foundation Housing and a range of collaborating agencies, to provide intensive wrap around support to individuals facing complex barriers to exiting homelessness. Our Home2Health Team has been involved with the 20 Lives evaluation since its commencement.

Evaluation of Library Connect - Fremantle

The LibraryConnect Fremantle pilot project commenced mid 2020 and involves employing a community support worker that is embedded in the Fremantle City library, to connect with individuals and families experiencing hardship (including people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness). 

The project is a partnership between St Pat’s, the Fremantle library, and the City of Fremantle, and has been co-designed with community and stakeholder input, with recognition of the importance of lived experience involvement in the co-design process. Home2Health has been involved in the evaluation since its commencement.

Evaluation of Safe as Houses

Family and domestic violence (FDV) is the leading cause of insecure housing and homelessness for women and children. Whilst the imperative to keep women and children safe from FDV is of highest priority, even when women have left violent relationships, they can be left with many other stresses and challenges, often relating to financial insecurity, legal issues and risk of homelessness.

Safe as Houses (SASH) commenced as a pilot program in early 2017 and is a partnership of three established community legal centres, Tenancy WA, Women’s Legal Service WA and Street Law WA, who collectively identified the need for integrated legal and non-legal support for women who face the challenges of homelessness and FDV. SASH aims to provide legal assistance coupled with wraparound case management to assist clients with their often complex legal, financial and social issues. Home2Health was responsible for the evaluation of this program.