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Laid-back, polite, good-natured, and open to the future, 20-year-old Omar* is like any young person you may know. He is ready for the world of crypto, AI, and whatever good fortune lies ahead. We met with Omar on his last day at Hargreaves House, a crisis accommodation program for young people managed by inCommunity Connect . Ticking off his final goal set there of securing long-term accommodation, Omar generously shares his story, including how the support he received from our Case Management team has given him invaluable life experience in such a short period of time. He also shares how accessing free tenancy education delivered via the Tenancy Skills Institute has been critical to his success in reaching this next milestone on his pathway from homelessness to housing. His is a remarkable story. Read about it in our latest blog here. *Client's name has been de-identified.

The Tenancy Skills Institute's one-of-a-kind tenancy education program delivers on so much more than just the objectives of our contract with the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works. Our free tenancy education courses are embedded throughout a vast remit of Queensland Government programs, upskilling #Queenslanders to manage a rental property successfully while learning vital life skills for broader success.  From education, vocational training, child safety, domestic and family violence responses, and the successful transition of people exiting correctional facilities, the Tenancy Skills Institute is at each touchpoint. We congratulate the Ministers appointed today within the new Queensland Government and urge them to find out, as a matter of urgency, how our free tenancy education courses deliver tangible results in their new portfolios. Having delivered this program since 2017 and with only 60 days remaining in our current contract, time is of the essence to make sure that the Tenancy Skills Institute can continue to work in partnership to deliver better rental outcomes. Let's continue this momentum together. David Crisafulli MP | Sam O'Connor MP | John-Paul Langbroek | Ros Bates MP RN | Amanda Camm | Laura Gerber MP | Fiona Simpson MP GAICD Queensland Department of Education | Department of Employment, Small Business and Training | Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services | Department of Justice and Attorney-General QLD | Queensland Corrective Services

In a historic first, Q Shelter and Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) have released a report that will examine the annual impact of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games on housing markets and community displacement. The report not only examines rates of homelessness and demand for housing services but also considers the impacts on renters and homeowners. https://bit.ly/4f5j3mA Supported by Q Shelter project partners The Salvation Army, Brisbane Youth Service, YFS Ltd, inCommunity, Communify Micah Projects, and The Committee for Brisbane, the report establishes a baseline that can be used to help calibrate policy responses to ensure Brisbane 2032 delivers its intended legacy of social inclusion. Without proper planning, Queensland runs the risk of escalation in housing costs and rents in the lead up to 2032, risking pushing more households towards housing insecurity and homelessness. To access the 2024 edition of the report click here: https://bit.ly/4f5j3mA Q Shelter State Election Policy Platform: https://bit.ly/3BHfaWD #LegacyPlan #2032Games #Brisbane #SEQ #HomeMatters #BetterTogether #Go4Gold

It is significant on #WorldHomelessnessDay that the Tenancy Skills Institute reflects on our attendance at the Housing First Nations 2024 National Conference in Meanjin/Brisbane this week. A significant policy forum, exploring key issues, developments, opportunities and challenges for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing in Queensland, and across Australia. The Tenancy Skills Institute remains focused on our Indigenous Engagement Strategy to meaningful work towards closing the housing gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples via the provision of tenancy education to improve access to housing and housing outcomes for First Nations Peoples. We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are over-represented in the experience of homelessness, with over a third of clients supported by inCommunity Connect 's specialist housing and homelessness service identifying as First Nations Peoples. In response, over a third of Tenancy Skills Institute students, upskilling with practical 'how-to' tenancy skills, identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples. And we have a significant, strategic roadmap to contribute to this conversation that goes well beyond 31st December 2024 (when our current funding expires). We sincerely hope the Queensland Government (and Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works) recognises our critical contribution being made in working towards closing the housing gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, now and into the future, and re-funds the Tenancy Skills Institute.  

Are we there yet?…… Nope! Tony Cook and I are on a road trip this week heading through Central and North Queensland, connecting with real estate offices. We stopped in for a pic with Matilda at the Traveston Service Centre. Matilda is the same age as our organisation, both born in 1982. 42 years later and Matilda is just a memory from the past, some people may not even know the significance to Queensland. 42 years later and I don’t think I could find anyone who wouldn’t understand the significance of homelessness in Queensland right now. What will homelessness look like in Queensland in 2032 when the Olympic Games mascot is put out to pasture? Now is the time to make sure that we get it right. A huge part of the solution involves going upstream and turning off the tap. Not only will this keep people out of the system, it will also help take the pressure of a homelessness service system that is already at capacity, and allow us to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable. This is why we are passionate about prevention and very early intervention strategies like our Tenancy Skills Institute.

Are you a proud Tenancy Skills Institute supporter? Or, in other words ... Do you support delivering practical 'how-to' tenancy education and cross-sector early intervention strategies to sustain tenancies and keep Queenslanders out of the overflowing #homelessness system? In our final three months of funding and with no guarantee of future funding, we call on our vast network of supporters from the Community Sector, Real Estate Industry, students and graduates to share why you think the Tenancy Skills Institute needs to be re-funded into 2025 and beyond! Add your comments below, and re-share our posts to show your support. We would also love to send you one of our supporter stickers so you can proudly display this at your community centre, school, office, organisation and so on! Let's ensure this essential work can continue during this critical time when the issue of homelessness is so starkly impacting the community of Queensland. #betterrentaloutcomestogether

Our CEO Paul Tommasini is looking forward to this important discussion facilitated by Q Shelter, lending insights from Tenancy Skills Institute's cross-sector collaboration work and inCommunity Connect 's indepth experience of delivering support to people across all touchpoints of the homelessness experience.

Great to have our CEO Paul Tommasini participate in Wednesday’s panel discussion about tenancy sustainment at the Q Shelter Synthesis Series. Paul shared how the Tenancy Skills Institute has partnered with Property Managers within our valued network. Bringing cross-sector collaboration to life through early intervention support of at-risk tenancies. Since February this year, together with inCommunity Connect , we have sustained 202 households who were at risk of their tenancy failing, successfully steering them away from the impending risk of experiencing homelessness. We are enormously proud to work alongside our valued Real Estate Industry supporters who remain committed to our mission statement of creating better rental outcomes together. Interested in learning more about this cross-sector collaboration? Reach out to our CEO, Paul Tommasini who would love to share with you details of these outcomes.

“There is a huge growing need to support people experiencing homelessness and a big demand for workers. Yet it’s very hard to get experience in the sector, so this is a fantastic opportunity,” says Jasper, Intern. Thanks to the Australasian Housing Institute for sharing the news about inCommunity Inc's Inaugural Case Management Internship Program. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/grKxQA48

Today is R U OK? Day and inCommunity Inc, and our brands of inCommunity Connect Tenancy Skills Institute and Beddown, are inspired to get behind this message, today and any day! Together, we understand the power of meaningfully connecting with people and starting conversations with those in the world who may be struggling with life. So to raise awareness of this message, the inCommunity Connect team are now using the R U OK? Playing Cards (which double as conversation starters) across our programs. The cards have been a huge hit at Womens Club and for the young people at Hargreaves House Crisis Accommodation so far - so it's a sure thing we will continue using these special cards in the weeks and months ahead too! #RUOKDay2024 #ruokanyday