Open House opening hearts in the Northern Territory

A new and innovative program which accommodates and supports people experiencing homelessness while on remand, has surpassed all goals and expectations in its first year, according to program creator, Salvation Army Homelessness Manager Fred Docking.

This Homelessness Week (5-11 August 2024), Fred explains that authentic care and the building of genuine, healthy relationships are at the very heart of the program’s essential accommodation and wraparound services.

In March last year, The Salvation Army partnered with the Northern Territory Correctional Services, to begin delivery of the Open House program in both Darwin and Alice Springs.

Open House provides accommodation, as well as ‘wraparound’ support and advocacy for adults who have been sentenced but have no place of residence; usually those who are also highly vulnerable socially and who have little or no immediate community support.

While the Open House program is a specialist, case-managed support program predominantly for people who are subject to bail, it is also available to those eligible for parole, those who have administrative home detention, or those who have a general leave permit, but are struggling with homelessness.

An effective program changing lives

Northern Territory Correctional Services Commissioner Matthew Varley says of the program, “Northern Territory Correctional Services is pleased to work with The Salvation Army to provide an alternate pathway for people in the justice system by addressing their needs through housing, services and community connections.

“The Open House program enables people to be diverted from custody and into supported living with services that develop life skills and improve rehabilitation for better outcomes. Since the program commenced in 2023, we have had over 240 people receive bail supported accommodation to help them reintegrate into community.”

Program creator, Fred Docking, Salvation Army Northern Territory AOD (Alcohol and Other Drugs) and Homelessness Manager, saw a gap in services for vulnerable people struggling in homelessness, and who were at risk of entering or re-entering the prison system.

Fred says that Open House is “a relational program,” with peer mentors, staff and managers building a genuine sense of connection and care.

“It really works,” he says. “The Salvos are about changing one person’s life at a time. We see lives transformed, confidence growing, people entering the workforce, people finding stable accommodation and the other arm of that is not entering, or re-entering, the justice/prison system.”

Wraparound support changes lives

Part of ending homelessness and the cycle of prison includes provision of wraparound — or holistic — support to people who come into The Salvation Army’s services.

Open House partners with local providers to offer opportunities that build life and job skills. For example, in Darwin, the STEPS numeracy and literacy program delivers a service on-site that teaches skills ranging from how to use Microsoft Word, to creating a resumé, and more.

Other services include rehabilitation programs such as the Darwin Indigenous Men’s Service (DIMS), which features cultural ‘yarning’ (an informal conversation that is culturally friendly and safe).

Participants who often have a strong connection to Country and community are supported to engage in community inclusion programs such as the Alice Springs night markets, cultural festivals, and fundraising events. Health outcomes are also an essential part of the program with a registered nurse on staff in both locations with referrals made to other health and rehabilitation services, as required.

The Salvation Army free financial counselling service, Moneycare, offers both one-on-one and group support in both Darwin and Alice Springs. The unique Salvation Army Positive Lifestyle Program (PLP) runs an eight-module course in which participants explore topics such as anger, grief and loss, stress and self-awareness.

Building relationships a key

Fred created the Open House program after years working in homelessness and other social services.

He explains that while factors that lead many into the justice system and homelessness are complex and, therefore, complex responses are often needed – in other ways, the answers can be “quite simple”.

“In some senses this is a very simple program,” Fred explains. “The idea of Open House is to support people before they go into prison. It is a justice diversion program — wrapping people in care and building genuine relationships at the same time.

“It is about communicating that, ‘We understand you’ve gone through trauma, and we want you to have the space to heal and get your thoughts together; we want you to know that someone cares for you as a person, and you are a valued member of a community.’ Sadly, many people that we see have never before been affirmed in their lives.”
Learn more about how we can end homelessness in Australia — for good.

Care emotionally and practically flows-on

About 80 per cent of referrals to Open House come from the courts, Legal Aid. The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) Indigenous law firm support the program participants.

By offering accommodation, connection and tools such as Moneycare, PLP, housing advocacy and more at Open House, Fred says outcomes are significantly improved for individuals, which flows positively on to their families and the community.

He says, “Sometimes it just takes a person to care. It can actually sometimes take one word at the right moment to change a life. Say somebody’s never had a job, struggling with homelessness, facing prison and feels like they’ve got no hope left. Then they come into our program and there’s no judging, but rather positive affirmation, positive experiences, opportunities for growth and achievement.

“To do that authentically, we need to 100 per cent believe in the people and put their past behind them,” Fred says.

“If we don’t do these things, our prison systems only get bigger and our communities get less safe.

“To build a safe community, you have to have a community that loves, respects and looks out for each other, which, at its very heart, is what this program is all about!”

Segments of this story courtesy:
https://www.salvosonline.org.au/post/an-alternative-solution-to-prison-in-the-northern-territory