Research & Advocacy
Research
Common Ground Queensland’s two main projects (Brisbane Common Ground and our Supportive Housing for Families project) have been evaluated by researchers at the University of Queensland. These reports found that supportive housing programs are an effective solution for ending homelessness.
According to a cost evaluation completed in 2015, the community saves over $13,100 annually per tenant at Brisbane Common Ground in unused social services such as criminal justice, hospital services and homelessness services.
The appraisal of the Supportive Housing for Families program found that the families in the program reduced their child protection interventions and reported improved family functioning. We also annually undertake a tenant satisfaction survey to evaluate our services.
Advocacy
Supportive and affordable housing is a vital but little understood form of public housing.
We have partnered with QCOSS and are proud to be a member of their Town of Nowhere Campaign. We are also a member of the Women’s Safety and Security Alliance, which promotes supportive housing for women, the Brisbane Alliance to End Homelessness and a number of other networks and alliances which provides us with the opportunity to work with other support and housing organisations to address homelessness in our community.
At Common Ground Queensland, as a part of our advocacy and commitment to accountability, we regularly engage with researchers from the University of Queensland to evaluate the effectiveness of our programs.
This research has revealed the impact our programs have, not only on our tenants but on the community as a whole and can be used in the development of future government policy.