Resources for working with domestic squalor

Squalor is a complex issue that can cause significant risks to an individual or family’s tenancy. There are now different programs, resources and approaches being developed and trialled to address the issue of squalor. Whilst there are no specific resources developed as yet specifically for Community Housing, there are resources available that might be useful in developing your services approach to this issue.

From City of Sydney Partnerships Against Homelessness Unit

Squalor Guidelines for Field Staff

Resource Kit For Dealing With Squalor from Blue Mountains Council

Catholic Community Services and City of Sydney

Online Squalor and Hoarding toolkit. This is location specific and does not cover community housing at all. However it is a useful general resource that covers the issues well.

http://www.catholiccommunityservices.com.au/squalorandhoarding/

Evaluation of the Catholic Healthcare Severe Domestic Squalor Project 2009

This project evaluates the outcomes and process of a severe domestic squalor project operating in Sydney NSW.

http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/File/Report_SevereDomesticSqualorProject_Findings.pdf

Presentations from the 2009 Squalor Conference “Pathways through the maze”

This conference was the first of its kind in NSW. There is a lot of information about services and best practice on the conference website.  

http://www.nationalsqualorconference.com.au/