About Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP)

SAAP started in 1983 and over the years has focused on offering support to people at risk of or experiencing homelessness and or escaping domestic violence. In response to the complexity of support needs of SAAP clients the Commonwealth and State governments agreed to develop mechanisms that would strengthen regional non-government involvement in program co-ordination and service development. The Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) is a joint Commonwealth À State funded initiative.

Assistance to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Victoria is provided through programs including the Supported Accommodation and Assistance Program (SAAP) and the Transitional Housing Management (THM) program. These programs provide help to young people, single adults and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless including women and children experiencing domestic violence. The Commonwealth and State Governments fund these Programs.

The aim of homelessness assistance services is to assist people to move through crisis and/or homelessness to independence and maintain appropriate secure and sustainable housing.

The services provided under this program include Crisis Accommodation, (Crisis Agency, Women's Refuges and Youth Refuges, Family and Singles crisis housing), Transitional Support (including Outreach Agency), Telephone Information and Referral Agency and Homeless Person's Support Centres (also known as Day Centres).

SAAP services assisted 36,600 Victorians in the financial year 2007-2008, including 6.5% who were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, 16.9% who were from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds, 30.4% who were young people (15-24 years), 65.2% who were women, and 21,400 children accompanied by one or both parents.

In 2001 the Victorian Government introduced Regional Children's Resource Workers to assist SAAP services to meet the needs of children accompanying carers into homeless services.

The assistance provided by SAAP Agency is tailored to the individual person's and families' needs through case management, which may range from a single session to extensive contact and support.

The support offered includes outreach, crisis refuge accommodation, assessment and referral, early intervention, brokerage, counseling and advocacy. SAAP services support people in a variety of ways, both through direct assistance and/or linking clients to other agencies. SAAP services work closely with the THM programs including Housing information and Referral (HIR), Transitional Housing and Housing Establishment Funds (HEF).

THM services assisted 125,000 people with Housing Information and Referral, accommodated 7343 households and distributed $5m HEF grants in 2000-2001.

SAAP workers may be able to assist or arrange a referral to another agency who could assist with:
* Housing and accommodation
* Housing Information and Referral
* Housing Establishment Funds
* Securing income
* Mental health/psychiatric support
* Access to showers, laundry and meals
* Family and Domestic violence
* Financial difficulty
* Material Aid
* Physical, sexual and emotional abuse
* Relationship and family breakdown
* Children accompanying an adult seeking assistance
* Family mediation
* Counseling and advocacy
* Eviction
* Legal issues
* Settlement issues
* Drug and alcohol support/rehabilitation
* Health and medical services
* Culturally appropriate services