Outreach and Advocacy

Across Australia, homelessness is often the result of lack of affordable accommodation, unemployment, mental illness, broken families, domestic violence and/or substance misuse, to name a few.

Finding solutions to reduce and in time, end homelessness means responding to the unique needs of each person – rather than forcing them into a system that may not be
suitable for their individual needs.

This is particularly important, at pivotal junctures in their lives – such as and not limited to, when people become unemployed, decouple, leave care or prison, experience trauma, etc.

Starting in WA, i24s’ approach to outreach and advocacy has been and remains, firmly focussed on steadily reducing the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal people within the homelessness
population.

i24s embraces a culturally appropriate, person-centred approach to outreach – which integrates trauma-informed care, cross-agency collaboration and specialised interventions, among other support and services.

Coordinated Outreach Support

i24s Coordinated Outreach Service is proactive. We provide a rapid-response
model that is designed to identify, engage and deliver critical support for people
experiencing homelessness in the Perth metropolitan area.

Through assertive and responsive outreach, we bring essential services to
those in need, ensuring they gain access to essential services and community
support.

Assertive Outreach: Our highly trained team undertakes regular, scheduled
patrols in key locations, to connect with individuals sleeping rough, build trust
and link them with essential services.
Responsive Outreach: We also provide flexible support for individuals
experiencing crisis, including those in homelessness hotspots, encampments,
or transitional situations.
Housing and Support Pathways: We work closely with government agencies
and other service providers to transition individuals from being homelessness,
and into safe, stable accommodation.

Return to Country Program (RTC)
i24s’ RTC program supports Aboriginal people who wish to reconnect with their
Country, family and cultural communities. We provide assistance with:

cultural liaison and community connection to ensure a safe transition;
transport arrangements for eligible individuals seeking to return home; and
short-term accommodation where necessary, during travel arrangements.

Governance and Long-Term Stability

Leveraging multi-agency collaboration and robust governance frameworks, our team works closely with individuals and families to help transition them out of crisis for the long-term.

Changing and often unforeseen circumstances can have considerable negative impacts on society – specifically, in rising levels of homelessness.

Outreach and Advocacy Capability Statement