Data collection is at the heart of all Not For Profits – and informs decisions from how to feed the weekly cohort of hungry who arrive at the door of Foodbank WA to how to plan for those needing crisis accommodation over Christmas.
The impact NFPs have on the societal health of our community should not be underestimated – and as their services are in demand like never before, the dilemma of how they continue to bridge the gap left by a shortfall in governmental funds and corporate investment is more pressing than ever before.
Research is key to strategy and delivery
CEO of St Patrick’s Community Support Centre (St Pat’s), Michael Piu, heads up a team which measures outcomes and impact, just like any for-profit business.
“We use quantitative and qualitative data, from the number of people we support to their experience using our services,” he said.
“Within the homelessness sector, considerable research continues to be undertaken both locally and nationally to test the effectiveness of programs and learn from proven, evidence-based models. This research also allows us to understand the social and economic impact more broadly.”
In Western Australia alone, specialist service providers like St Pat’s supported 25,000 people in the 2021 Financial Year, with 66% of people receiving accommodation support. But the impact of this level of support goes beyond providing meals and housing.
For example, homelessness has a significant cost-burden on the health sector, with the median cost per person over six months being around $20,000, according to Mr Piu.
“This is much greater than the average population, but we know with stable and appropriate housing people are in a position to more effectively manage what are often complex and chronic health conditions. This in turn reduces the financial burden on the community.”
This was shown by the 50 Lives 50 Homes program, led by Ruah Community Services and funded by the sisters of St John of God and the Western Australia Primary Health Alliance. The program resulted in a 48% decrease in emergency department presentations, and a 51% reduction in inpatient admissions in the first-year post-housing. In addition, there were substantial reductions in offences committed (35%), court appearances (68%), and move-on notices (62%).
St Pat’s program - 20 Lives 20 Homes Fremantle - which draws on the learnings of 50 Lives 50 Homes, is currently being evaluated and is expected to show similar health and cost benefits.
“St Pat’s health and dental clinics also support hundreds of people annually, with $247,000 worth of pro-bono dental treatments delivered in the FY2021 alone, reducing the health burden which stems from poor oral health, with the support of professional volunteers and the Australian Dental Health Foundation,” said Mr Piu.
The ongoing impact of COVID – and lessons learned
The community services sector also came together for a unified COVID-19 response, supporting the government vaccination programs by providing targeted and community-focused outreach.
One of the programs designed and led by St Pat’s during the height of the pandemic was Doorstep Dinners, which kept service providers and vulnerable people connected through the delivery of healthy, fresh cooked meals to people during COVID lockdown and isolation.
“The program, which was supported by philanthropists and not-for-profit agencies such as Uniting WA, United Way and Minderoo Foundation, delivered 35,000 meals but also provided $500,000 in economic stimulus to restaurants and suppliers in Fremantle and Perth during a period when they were under significant pressure,” said Mr Piu.
“Having a real and lasting positive impact on both our clients and the community is vital to St Pat’s and the sector more broadly, as we understand that it’s only through building strong communities that we can solve complex challenges such as homelessness.”
For Foodbank WA’s CEO, Kate O’ Hara, the continuing effect of COVID coupled with the cost of living and housing stress are reverberating across the WA community-at-large.
Inflation in WA is also ahead of the rate for the rest of the nation,” she said.
“Our Perth branch is seeing about 30 new referrals for assistance a day, many asking for help for the first time in their lives
“If we can help people reduce their food costs then it can help them to pay their other bills and hopefully keep them afloat and in their homes.”
The reality is stark: the Government currently funds very little for food relief but with a social impact of $23 for every kilo of food distributed, the investment in food relief can help a lot of families to access healthy and affordable food.
For those who live beyond the boundaries of the Perth metro area and in regional WA, the situation can be especially dire. Funding at a Federal level for this particular ongoing crisis is well overdue.
“Our food relief service is not operating past Geraldton so there is much to do to support communities in the Pilbara and Kimberley,” said Ms O’Hara.
“Ideally the Government and other organisations will start to appreciate the scale of our geography and the cost of logistics to service those that we know could realise significant change in their quality of life, if they had access to nutritious, regular food.
“Our service into these regions could significantly alter the current investment the Federal government makes into supporting these communities.”
Future-proofing assistance
By analysing the data harvested from ongoing services and projects, NFPs are able to put in train wish lists and strategies to help their frontline clients effectively – even when curveballs like COVID enter, stage left.
For instance, St Pat’s is part of the My Home project, which will initially deliver 18 long-term, sustainable homes for women over 55 in North Fremantle.
“This was an example of the public private partnership model, which brings together government and non-government agencies, philanthropists, businesses and local community groups to collaborate on providing local solutions,” said Mr Piu.
The modular homes are constructed off-site, according to Passivhaus principles, which makes them both faster and more sustainable than traditional builds.
“By investing in innovative building solutions and working collaboratively we will deliver new social housing options, despite the over-stretched construction market and rising costs.”
In addition to this life-changing development to house vulnerable, older women, St Pat’s is currently seeking to expand the project in other communities to develop homes for single men, families and other people experiencing homelessness, and this first project will serve as a model to help them and other service providers deliver similar projects.
It’s innovative solutions like these which attract the attention of corporate bodies seeking to invest funds in NFP solutions which have long-term benefits, rather than short term positive headlines.
“St Pat’s finds businesses respond positively when we’re able to present tried and tested solution to problems which impacts everyone in their community,” said Mr Piu.
“We work with the expertise and knowledge, as well as financial and material support, of local businesses and people and it’s that collaboration and drive to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives which gets important projects like My Home off the ground and brings communities closer together.”
In a similar way, Foodbank WA has focused on ensuring there is a continuity of supply of staples by collaborating with growers, manufacturers, suppliers and transporters to purchase essential items that are not donated in sufficient quantities including pasta, rice, tinned soup and pasta sauce.
“A kilogram of food from Foodbank has an average retail value of $6.09,” said Ms O’Hara.
“Every donation of $1 enables us to distribute $5.16 worth of food – a great ROI. Nevertheless, we rely heavily on corporate partnerships and fundraising appeals to ensure we can keep our shelves stocked and meet the increasing demand.”
Despite the ongoing generosity of support from corporates who help fund the work of Foodbank WA, there are looming shortfalls unless further funds can be secured.
“We will also not be able to provide a sustainable food relief program into the Pilbara and Kimberley without support,” said Ms O’Hara.
“There is also a significant need to expand our education programs. These programs all have demand well above the current funding and so if we are to meet the demand in market, we need support to expand this education that changes lives.”
