In the news: ABC’s 7.30 recognises Habilis as the way forward for homeless people living with severe mental illness

This week we were thrilled to see Habilis featured in Adam Harvey’s 7.30 article on the recent Bondi Junction inquest, highlighting the critical link between housing, mental health and community safety. One of the inquest’s key recommendations was that the NSW Government support “long-term accommodation for those experiencing mental health issues and homelessness… based on the models delivered by Habilis in NSW and Haven in Victoria.”

This article highlights what we’ve long believed: safe, supported housing should be part of the solution for people living with severe mental illness, not an afterthought. It’s not just compassionate; it’s practical and, as our founder Professor Olav Nielssen points out, ultimately more cost-effective.

“It costs more to neglect a homeless person… than it costs to house and treat them, if you look at all the costs that they generate in unnecessary healthcare, criminal justice, and even the sanitation costs of people sleeping rough.”

He goes on to highlight a simple truth that underpins everything we do, “Homelessness is a situation where it’s very hard to provide continuity of care until you’ve got an address…”. Because without a stable home, it is almost impossiblefor health professionals to stay connected with people needing ongoing support.

It’s so encouraging to see this conversation happening in the mainstream, and we hope it leads to more support for solutions that work.

Read the full ABC News 7.30 article here.