6.2
Longer-term housing stability
strongly disagree and 10 equals strongly agree. As
shown, clients generally agreed strongly that their
rental housing is more stable than when they first
contacted the service and that they were better
able to cope with other pressures in their live
because of this stability. However, they felt that
the program had limited impact on whether they
can pay their rent on time, can afford a rental
property or are living in an area that they want to
live in.
Clients were asked to comment on the impact of
the program on their longer-term housing stability
and whether it has helped them to cope better
with other pressures in their lives. Table 5 shows
the median scores from a series of statements
where clients were asked to rate the impact of the
service on a scale of 0 to 10 where zero equals
Table 5. Satisfaction with stability and coping with other life pressures
Because of the program……
Median
score
My rental housing is more stable than it was when I first contacted the service
I am better able to cope with other pressures in my life
I can pay my rent on time
I can now afford a rental property
I am living in an area that I want to live in
The open ended responses from clients provide
further insight into the difference the program has
made for their own lives and their families. Clients
spoke of the benefits of what flowed on from
having more stable housing, including helping
them to build a new sense of place allowing them
to ‘get on with their lives’ and overcome feelings
of isolation. For new arrivals the program was
reported to provide the opportunity to build their
lives in a new country with a greater sense of
security.
9.5
8.5
2
5
5
how the program has allowed them to find a sense
of peace and start to build a home. Others
reported that being able to choose their housing in
an area that they wanted to live in meant that they
could remain close to their existing supports.
At the start the stress was very high
because we couldn’t get enough
money to pay the upfront amount. I
still have the stress and day to day
pressures of living on a low income but
it is not as bad because of the stability
in the housing. I’m still in the same
house and it is the best house that I
have had for a very long time. After
spending many years homeless and
bouncing around I feel at peace here –
this is where I would like to stay and
make a home. I try my best to make
sure everything is up to date [Client
interview].
The program is very important to me
because I struggle with my English it
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