Common Ground practice manual

Summary

AHURI Professional Services, in collaboration with Mind Australia and MGS Architects, prepared a Practice Manual to provide guidance for the delivery, design and funding of congregate supportive housing based on Housing First principles, such as the Common Ground model.
 

What we did

Development of the Common Ground Practice Manual included:

• Consulting with a wide range of stakeholders, including local government officers at three Councils, state government departments and agencies, housing providers, support service providers, and people with lived experience of homelessness by means of workshops, focus groups and interviews
• Conducting an evidence review of the Housing First literature and case studies to determine best practice
• Preparation of a Theory of Change and Program Logic for the delivery of congregate supportive housing in the Inner-Metro region of Melbourne
• Development of a best practice framework for service model design
• Development of design principles and strategies to support the procurement of high-quality, fit for purpose congregate supportive housing
• Production of an accessible, attractive and comprehensive publication to guide the planning and delivery of congregate supportive housing facilities, such as Common Ground, based on best practice principles
   

Outcomes for the client

• A resource to assist the delivery of congregate supportive housing by local governments, in partnership with state agencies and other stakeholders
• An inclusive process that supported engagement with multiple stakeholders
   

Impact of the work

You can download and read a copy of the practice manual from our website, and read more about the project from The Office for Suburban Development.