Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI)

Abstract

HASI is an innovative program funded by the NSW Government that ensures stable housing linked to a range of levels of specialist support for people with a mental illness. The Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) of the University of NSW has recently completed a two-year longitudinal evaluation of the first stage of HASI. This report details the outcomes of HASI Stage One, which was implemented in 2003 with 100 places of high-level support in nine locations across NSW. The evaluation by the SPRC has helped to guide the further development of HASI. This is the final Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) Stage One evaluation report. HASI is a partnership between NSW Health, the Department of Housing (DoH) and non government organisations (NGOs), and is jointly funded by NSW Health and DoH. The program follows psychosocial rehabilitation principles and has a recovery focus. It aims ‘to assist people with mental health problems and disorders requiring accommodation (disability) support to participate in the community, maintain successful tenancies, improve quality of life and most importantly, to assist in the recovery from mental illness’ (NSW Health and NSW DoH 2005).