Australia is in the depths of a homelessness crisis, with over 122,000 people lacking a permanent home. More than a third of Australians who have experienced homelessness have had to sleep rough at some point, with First Nations peoples being disproportionately affected: they represent one in five of those experiencing homelessness in Australia despite only making up 3.8% of the total population. Experiences of rough sleeping are catastrophic for people’s health and can bring about premature death – up to 30 years earlier than those who have stable housing. 

Advance to Zero (AtoZ), an initiative run by the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH), empowers communities to tackle homelessness. Inspired by the Built for Zero model from World Habitat Award winner Community Solutions, it aims to prevent, reduce and end all homelessness in Australia, by reaching what is known as functional zero.   

In a country with no national systems in place to measure homelessness rates, the AtoZ initiative:   

  • introduces a measurable framework for communities to work towards preventing, reducing and ending homelessness.   
  • develops a shared vision and ownership among communities in reaching and sustaining functional zero.   
  • advocates to key decision makers for dedicated resources to improve homelessness support services. 

 The interesting feature of this project is how it has adapted a well-regarded evidence-based approach to the Australian context, achieving measurable reductions in homelessness in three partner communities since 2020.  

The programme works in the following stages: 

  1. Action Planning: Communities collaborate to set goals, establish a team, and create a plan for achieving “functional zero.” This means consistently housing more people than entering homelessness. 
  2. Quality By-Name List: Communities build a real-time record of those experiencing rough sleeping. 
  3. Improve to Zero: Data from the list helps communities implement solutions to reduce homelessness each month. 
  4. Sustaining Zero: Once functional zero is achieved, communities focus on maintaining it through ongoing improvement projects. 
  5. Zero for All: Successful communities expand their efforts to include new populations and areas. 

This project showcases the impact of evidence-based approaches and how they can be tailored and localised to certain communities.  While AtoZ is inspired and informed by Community Solutions’ Built for Zero movement, the AAEH has tailored the initiative specifically to the Australian context, by:   

  • Building a national database specifically for Australia to store by-name homelessness information. This improves how the service is delivered and experienced by users, and creates a central hub for data collection, benefiting policy, research, and advocacy efforts. 
  • Creating a unique assessment tool for Australia to understand homeless individuals’ needs. It was developed in close collaboration with service providers, people with lived and living experience of homelessness, and First Nations communities. 
  • Implementing a Cultural Engagement project to continually improve how A-Z meets the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experiencing homelessness.   

Social impact: 

The AtoZ initiative began in 2018 with three partner locations and has since grown to 29, housing more than 4,076 people. The organisers estimate it is helping to secure homes for approximately 900 people every year.  Three locations – Port Philip, Geraldton, and Mandurah – have achieved a measurable reduction in street homelessness already.  AAEH has also influenced national policy discussions. Through events and publications, they’ve fostered collaboration and helped secure $6 million AUD for homeless healthcare. 

Funding 

The project has several income streams:  

  1. Project partners redirect existing funds and donations to participate.   
  2. A number of state governments have made funds available to support local Zero Projects.  
  3. Key partner organisations support the programme with funding and significant in-kind contributions. 
  4. AAEH is also involved in the management of two key government contracts previously run by partner organisations.    

Transfer and expansion

AtoZ has begun to tailor plans to different locations and specific groups such as First Nations people and the over 55s. Personalised 90-day change projects help local partners drive their own routes to functional zero and improve how homelessness systems in their area interact with others such as housing, health and justice. Through the World Habitat Awards, they are hoping to expand their reach and share their knowledge globally. 

Why it’s a World Habitat Award winner 

AtoZ is an excellent example of how to transfer and adapt solutions that can expand rapidly and answer an urgent need for housing. The project uses evidence-based approaches that help local communities to reduce homelessness and target those that are disproportionally affected – such as First Nation people – more effectively. Thanks in large part to AAEH’s work, understanding of homelessness is shifting in the country and the Australian Government is now developing a National Housing and Homelessness Plan, in collaboration with state and territory governments.   

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