Pacific Link Housing: Together Home Project

Between May 2022 and June 2023, the University of Newcastle partnered with Pacific Link Housing to examine lessons emerging from delivery of the Together Home program on the Central Coast. Together Home is funded by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice with the goal of supporting people experiencing homelessness (particularly those street sleeping) to obtain long-term housing and improved personal wellbeing. Pacific Link is the Together Home community housing provider for the Central Coast region, and this program facilitated linkages across various parts of the health and human service systems in the area. The University of Newcastle and Pacific Link worked together to understand what it takes, in addition to providing a house, to support individual people in moving from long-term homelessness into healthy, safe and socially connected lives. 

This research project worked closely with human services practitioners involved in the delivery of Together Home, to learn about what facilitates and inhibits impactful practice with people housed after long-term homelessness. Through exploratory, qualitative research methods, 21 practitioners across 9 organisations contributed their stories and experiences of working on Together Home over interviews and group conversations. Practitioners expressed their opinion on working collaboratively, and results indicate how it takes an investment of time and robust, transparent communication to develop these service relationships, but once established the flow on effects to service coordination (within and beyond Together Home) are substantial. Further, significant insights illustrate the highly personal and complex nature of what constitutes ‘success’ in a homelessness program; with different ways Together Home participants have experienced dignity, respect, trust, security, compassion, advocacy, safety, housing, and health.

Bio

April Dimmock is a Research Assistant at the University of Newcastle who strongly believes that research is a powerful place for social change. Her research interests focus on social justice, sense of place and community development. April is currently part of a research team working with a youth service in Gosford to learn about the key elements of a youth hub.

To watch the seminar session, please click here.

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