Youth Mental Health Supported Housing :
Home Victoria
Aalto partnered with Homes Victoria to address gaps in youth mental health support and housing highlighted by the Royal Commission. Their services included developing a preliminary business case, conducting a literature review, engaging stakeholders, and creating economic models. Despite challenges like variability in existing programs and staffing concerns, Aalto successfully aligned costs and staffing with funding expectations through close collaboration with stakeholders. This comprehensive approach aids decision-making and assesses program feasibility.
Image: Inside a new home at Victoria Street, Flemington
Credits: Homes Victoria
Image: inside a new home at Victoria Street, Flemington
Credits: Home Victoria
Youth Mental Health
supported Housing
Project Description
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System identified the current shortfall and need for youth mental health support and housing. Aalto was engaged by Homes Victoria to support the development of a preliminary business case for supported housing focused on people with additional mental health complexities. This involved a literature and landscape review, a written report and building a financial and economic model of the built-form solution. The preliminary business case was led and authored by Today with support from Aalto in structuring and directing the written report to be written in a format that could be applied to a practical built-form solution. The literature and landscape review informed design considerations to ensure that the facilities incorporated the latest evidence-based design principles. Aalto used demographic data of at-risk groups to determine hotspot areas and the best locations for major supported housing hubs. This ensures that supported housing is provided in the areas with the greatest need. This is a fundamental pillar in the considerations and the delivery of the program.
Aalto consulted with stakeholders of the report to ensure that the report met relevant submission criteria to the *** and that it was in line with expectations from Homes Victoria. Consulting with Today, Aalto developed a financial and economic model of the proposed built-form solution.
Project Challenges
Variability in designs and service delivery options of other youth and mental health-supported housing programs made cost benchmarking challenging. Reaching an acceptable level of staffing and finding the balance between sufficient staffing for service delivery outcomes and a staffing cost profile that was in line with funding expectations.
Our Role
Preliminary Business case development
Literature review
Stakeholder engagement
Economic modelling and qualitative assessment
Risk assessment
Solution
We achieved stakeholder support for the financial and economic model with close input and collaboration with both parties involved. This ensured moderation of the costing and staffing side of the model. Delivering the literature and landscape review, preliminary business case report and economic and financial model will aid in decision-making and assessing the feasibility of the proposed program and regulations, minimising risks and facilitating smooth project progression.