Dr. Sam Tsemberis serves as CEO of Pathways to Housing, an organization he founded in 1992 based on the belief that housing is a basic human right. Pathways developed the consumer driven evidence based Housing First program that provides immediate access to permanent supportive housing to individuals who are homeless and who have mental health and addiction problems.
Dr. Tsemberis is on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center. His is currently participating in national studies of homelessness, mental illness, and addiction in the US, Canada and Europe and has published numerous articles and book chapters on these topics. He recently published (Nov. 2010) the Housing First manual by Hazelden Press.
Speaking On:
Pathways’ Housing First Model – an evidence based program for ending homelessness
The practice of Housing First models – lessons learnt
Workshops:
How to implement an evidence based Housing First model
Mike Allen is the Chief Executive of Housing NSW, Department of Family and Community Services. Housing NSW is the largest social housing provider in the Southern Hemisphere – providing housing assistance to around 430,000 people annually and with the responsibility for the management of an asset portfolio of over 145,000 properties worth over $30 billion.
Since joining Housing NSW in July 1978, Mike has accrued over 30 years experience in social housing management, asset management and client service delivery, including community and Aboriginal housing. He is also currently the acting CEO of the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office.
He manages Housing NSW relationship at a National level, leads the planning and delivery of major policy reforms and programs and oversees major redevelopment projects.
Mike has a strong commitment to the values and principles of social housing and providing high quality housing services for those most in need.
Speaking On:
Moving investment to evidence based homelessness services: Outlining the NSW Government journey
Ian is CEO of Anglicare WA, a position he has held since 1995. His career began as a Teacher and Youth Education Officer in the Education Department. Subsequently he held a number of management positions in the State Public Service.
Throughout his career he has had a passion for community capacity building and social justice and therefore as well as his salaried positions has been involved in both creating and governing a wide range of community organisations at local, national and international levels.
He has also held the positions of Deputy President of the ACCOS, President of WACOSS and President of Family Services Australia; and was also Chairman of the State Taskforce on Poverty and Chairman of the Ministerial Housing Advisory Committee. He is currently on the Board of WACOSS and is a Founding Board Member of Foyer Foundation, a nationally focused youth homeless initiative, and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Anglicare Australia.
Of note is his appointment as Chairperson of the WA State Government’s Social Housing Taskforce in 2009. He is currently a member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Homelessness and a member of the International Alliance on Homelessness, an international collaboration on research, policy, and practice to end homelessness.
Ian was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the General Division (AM) in 2009.
Speaking On:
Lessons from homelessness & affordable housing reforms within Australia
Andrew Hollows is the Deputy Executive Director of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.
Prior to this, Andrew was at Hanover Welfare Services as General Manager, Research & Organisational Development and previously held the position of Assistant Director, Research at AHURI in 2005 and 2006.
Andrew has extensive research experience in the field of housing and homelessness. His role at Hanover included managing Hanover’s research program, media and communications, business development, and oversight of Hanover’s new employment program as a homeless specialist service. Research activities undertaken at Hanover included: an analysis of public perceptions of homelessness; the application of human rights approaches to homelessness; and the interaction of precarious housing and health.
Prior to his previous role at AHURI, Andrew worked in the field of homelessness and age care, which included the provision of high level policy advice with the Victorian Department of Human Services.
Speaking On:
Raising the bar for evidence based homelessness policy
Using evidence & evaluation to end homelessness
3 years ago governments and communities committed to halving homelessness and providing supported housing for all rough sleepers by 2020. By 2013 homelessness was to be reduced by 20%; primary homelessness by 25%; and the demand for specialist homelessness services reduced by 25%.
How is your community tracking?
“Reducing homelessness requires sound policy and regulatory settings, as well as improved programs and services.” (FaHCSIA)
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