David MacKenzie – The Conversation

Mick Tsikas/AAP

August 6, 2024

Can Australia end homelessness? Yes, we know how, but we must find the will to do it

David MacKenzie, University of South Australia and Tammy Hand, UNSW

Our governments now have all the evidence they need to end homelessness. The new National Housing and Homelessness Plan is an opportunity to put it into practice.

Loic Le Guilly/AAP

August 9, 2023

Efforts to find safe housing for homeless youth have gone backwards. Here’s what the new national plan must do differently

David MacKenzie, University of South Australia and Tammy Hand, UNSW

The last time an Australian government made housing the homeless a priority was 15 years ago. The Albanese government’s promised plan is a second chance to get it right by drawing on models that work.

Victorian homelessness inquiry chair Fiona Patten: ‘We need to be smarter about where we direct our efforts.’ James Ross/AAP

March 30, 2021

Homeless numbers set to rise again, but inquiry can be a turning point if we get smarter about housing people

David MacKenzie, University of South Australia

JobKeeper, the COVID boost to JobSeeker, and moratoriums on rent increases and evictions all ended this month. Only smarter policies will prevent homelessness, as a landmark Victorian report explains.

Shutterstock

April 22, 2020

6 steps towards remaking the homelessness system so it works for young people

David MacKenzie, University of South Australia and Tammy Hand, University of South Australia

The system isn’t working to prevent young Australians becoming homeless and to house them when they need it. New research finds a shift to proven community-based approaches can end decades of failure.

The public outrage at the killing of Courtney Herron, including a vigil in the park where her body was found, demands more than a knee-jerk response from government. Daniel Pockett/AAP

June 9, 2019

Look beyond crisis accommodation so people like Courtney Herron aren’t homeless in the first place

David MacKenzie, University of South Australia and Tammy Hand, University of South Australia

The brutal killing of a young homeless woman has led to calls for more crisis accommodation. This is a short-term fix. We have to move beyond crisis management to sustained housing for people at risk.

Despite a ten-point roadmap and bold commitments, Australia has not stayed on track to reduce youth homeless over the past decade. Roman Bodnarchuk/Shutterstock

March 17, 2019

Youth homelessness efforts get a lowly 2 stars from national report card

David MacKenzie, Swinburne University of Technology and Tammy Hand, University of South Australia

In 2008, Australia had a national homelessness strategy, plus a ten-point roadmap to reduce youth homelessness. Why has it fallen so far short of its goals, and what still needs to be done?

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