CHP sector consultation: counting the homeless review

Date: Monday 6 June 2011
Time: 9:30 to 2:00 pm (lunch provided)
Location: Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers St, Abbottsford 3066
Registration: Visit the following link to register: http://chpsectorconsultation.eventbrite.com/.  (The event is free.)

Registration closes COB Thursday 2 June

 
The Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) will host a Sector Consultation on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) discussion paper, Methodological review of the Counting the Homeless (CTH) 2006 Report.  Speakers include the Hon Mark Arbib, Minister for Homelessness, who will provide the Commonwealth’s response to the ABS review and Prof. Chris Chamberlain, Counting the Homeless author, who will highlight key concerns regarding estimates of homelessness. 
 
The purpose of the Sector Consultation is to:

• Summarise the ABS review of the Counting the Homeless Methodology
• Get sector input on the major areas of concern
• Prioritise issues for further action;

More background information:

The discussion paper, release by the ABS on 31 March, proposes a new approach to analysing the Census data.  The changes would significantly reduce the estimate of homelessness in Australia.  As a result CHP and the sector have a lot of questions and serious concerns about the proposed changes to the Counting the Homeless methodology.
 
What we do know is that measurements of homelessness are essential to understanding and responding to homelessness and have implications for the way resources are invested.  Therefore CHP is committed to ensuring we have confidence in the methodology employed to count homelessness.
 
So far CHP has organised meetings with lead ABS statisticians, key federal Ministers, researchers David MacKenzie& Chris Chamberlain and the Regional Network Coordinators.  Some major areas of concern have been identified.

Next we need YOUT INPUT on key areas of concern at the 6

June consultation.