Evaluation of the Social Housing Advocacy and Support Program (SHASP)
Evaluation of the Social Housing Advocacy and Support Program (SHASP)
Client: Department of Human Services - Victoria
The Social Housing Advocacy and Support Program (SHASP) is a Victorian government regionally based initiative aimed at improving housing outcomes for social housing tenants and public housing applicants. The Department of Human Services (DHS) funds two community service organisations to deliver SHASP services in metropolitan and regional Victoria. HOI was engaged by DHS to undertake an evaluation of the SHASP, in particular, the two support activities of the program - establishing successful tenancies and intervention in tenancies at risk. The objectives include assessment of service provider performance, effectiveness of assistance provided by SHASP, areas for improvement in the program, and capacity of the program model to achieve program goals.
The evaluation methodology comprised a combined quantitative and qualitative approaches. These included a review of SHASP regional activity data, online survey for SHASP providers, consultation with DHS central and regional housing offices, peak bodies and tenants, and case study visits to selected SHASP providers. The findings of this evaluation will inform the Department's decision making on the future development of the program in sustaining tenancies.