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AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AND WELFARE (AIHW)

NAME OF COLLECTION

Supported Accommodation Assistance Program National Data Collection (SAAP NDC)


OVERVIEW

The Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) National Data Collection, established in July 1996, provides information necessary to assist in the planning, monitoring and evaluation of the SAAP program. The National Data Collection (NDC) is a nationally consistent information system combining information from SAAP agencies and State/Territory and Commonwealth funding departments. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare fulfils the role of the National Data Collection Agency (NDCA) and manages the collection.

The National Data Collection (NDC) provides information about the SAAP to agencies and program administrators to assist them in their work so that services for homeless people can be improved. In addition, the collection provides information about SAAP to peaks, community groups, and interested researchers to assist in debates about homelessness.

The SAAP NDC has three components:
1. The Client Collection
2. The Administrative Data Collection
3. The Unmet Demand Collection.

The Client Collection collects information on clients receiving ongoing or substantial support under SAAP. Data collected includes basic socio-demographic information (including country of birth) and the services required by and provided to each client. Details about accompanying children are also collected. Additionally, information is collected about the circumstances of clients before and after receiving SAAP support.

The Administrative Data Collection identifies and describes the agencies funded under SAAP.

The SAAP NMDS includes information about all clients receiving SAAP support. The information is collected throughout the year. The SAAP NMDS also identifies and describes the agencies funded under SAAP.


SCOPE

Client Collection: Persons who were supported by government funded agencies that provide services specialised for homeless persons and persons at risk of homelessness. Data is collected by agency workers from clients.

The Administrative Data Collection: Government funded specialist homelessness services agencies.

The Unmet Demand Collection: Persons who approach government funded specialist homelessness services agencies for support.

The SAAP NDC is a census; in 2008-09, there were an estimated 125,800 clients and 1,500 agencies.


DATA DETAIL

· Number of clients supported by the program each year
· Demographic characteristics of SAAP clients, including
· Country of birth (according to SACC definitions)
· The type of support required by SAAP clients and the extent to which support was provided
· The circumstances of SAAP clients before and after support


GEOGRAPHIC DETAIL

Statistics are published in Annual Reports at the national and state/territory level, as well as totals for regions. Statistics can be produced for substate estimates and Remote and Regional Areas, on request.


AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND PUBLICATIONS

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website can be found at www.aihw.gov.au.

Each year the AIHW produces reports on the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program. Various Publications are available online:

· SAAP National Data Collection Annual Report . Cat. no. HOU 219. Canberra

· Demand for government funded specialist homelessness accommodation: a report from the SAAP National Data Collection. Cat. no. HOU 230. Canberra