Nation leading resources to help prepare Queenslanders experiencing homelessness this disaster season

Posted: Monday 23 October 2023

• In an Australian-first, the Queensland Government has launched a suite of resources to help people experiencing homelessness to prepare for and recover from disasters.
• People at risk of or experiencing homelessness are more exposed to the risks from disaster events such as floods, cyclones and bushfires.
• The Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) Homelessness Outreach Toolkit will assist individuals who work with people experiencing homelessness to understand and support their needs throughout a disaster event.

Queensland emergency and community services will be better equipped to support people at risk of or experiencing homelessness this disaster season thanks to a new toolkit.

In an Australian-first, the Queensland Government has launched a suite of resources informed by lived experience to reduce the impact of disaster for Queenslanders who are homeless.

The government partnered with the University of Sydney, Queenslanders with Disability Network and the Community Services Industry Alliance to create the Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) Homelessness Outreach Toolkit.

The toolkit includes an outreach guide, videos, and learning modules designed to help people working in the emergency and social services sector to develop inclusive disaster planning and support the needs of people experiencing homelessness before, during and after disaster.

It was developed following extensive consultation with people who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness and draws on the expertise of people across emergency services, community service organisations, and local government.

For more information about the P-CEP Homelessness Outreach Toolkit, visit: www.qld.gov.au/disaster-risk-reduction

Quotes attributable to Michelle Villeneuve, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Centre for Disability Research and Policy, University of Sydney:

“This project put people with lived experience of homelessness at the centre of the conversation as we set out to develop this toolkit. Their authentic experiences are woven into the fabric of this toolkit.

“Our lived experience working group members generously shared the intricate realities of managing every day and how this impacts emergency preparedness.

“Their stories bring to life the multiple and overlapping dimensions of homelessness. This invaluable insight not only helps us to identify unique capabilities, but also sheds light on the crucial support needed to ensure tailor-made disaster preparedness for people experiencing homelessness.

“With their voices leading the way, this toolkit offers tips and strategies to ensure a more inclusive approach to disaster risk reduction.”

Quotes attributable to Grant, Lived Experience of Homelessness Working Group Member:

“As someone who has been homeless and has a disability, I felt I could pass on my lived experience of being prepared in times of disaster. People could relate to me.

“It’s important to remember disaster affects everyone and for the socially disadvantaged it can be even tougher.”

Hear Grant’s story.

Quotes attributable to Michelle Moss, CEO, Queenslanders with Disability Network:

“Living with a disability and experiencing homelessness can compound the challenges individuals face, making a particularly difficult situation even more difficult.

“Some of the unique challenges these individuals may encounter include limited accessibility, healthcare needs, stigma and discrimination, lack of support systems and access to social services, safety concerns, isolation and mental health struggles.

“This toolkit is important as it helps enable emergency preparedness across the community, placing people experiencing homelessness at the centre, putting them in the driver’s seat for their emergency planning, and delivering on inclusion.”

Quotes attributable to Cheryl Schmidt, CEO, Community Services Industry Alliance (CSIA):

“Specialist homelessness services and other community services know the people who are vulnerable in their community, work with them every day and have strong relationships across local service systems.

“This means these services can play a critical role in supporting people to engage with disaster preparedness. They can work closely with emergency management to help people with vulnerabilities to stay safe.

“The community sector knows the best outcomes come from person centred, respectful support which empowers individuals and families.

“The P-CEP Homelessness Outreach toolkit will be a great practical resource for these services to help people in their community to develop their own plan to prepare and stay safe during disasters.”

Background:

• The Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) Homelessness Outreach Toolkit is available for download at qld.gov.au/disaster-risk-reduction.
• People working in the emergency and social services sector can use the educational resources and toolkit to:
  • learn ways to support people at risk of or experiencing homelessness to prepare for and recover from disaster
  • develop emergency plans that are inclusive of the needs of people experiencing homelessness, so they are supported before, during and after disaster.
• The educational resources and toolkit are part of the Homelessness Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction project, which is proudly funded by the Queensland Government through the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund.
• The project recognises the high prevalence of disability among people who are homeless, and the increased disaster risks they experience due to limited access to secure, safe housing across different disaster risk contexts.
• It builds on the success of the P-CEP Certificate Course offered through the University of Sydney Centre for Continuing Education. This is a world-first education program where government and emergency services personnel learn alongside people with disability and their supporting services.
• During this project, P-CEP was taken up by people with lived experience of homelessness and service providers from the housing and homelessness sector.

[ENDS] Media contact: media@dsdsatsip.qld.gov.au