The Homelessness Information Clearinghouse www.homelessnessinfo.net.au, offers opportunities for people to participate in an online community, comment on articles, generate debate, participate in discussions, share information, ideas, expertise, and discuss issues online.

Ms Plibersek said: “The launch of the National Homelessness Information Clearinghouse will make it much easier for the homelessness sector to work together and share ideas.”

“Sharing research through this new facility will help government, researchers, service providers and the community to determine if our responses to homelessness are working.”

“It will also provide links to all levels of government and homelessness organisations websites. This will help to strengthen our ability to address the complex and very real problem of homelessness in Australia,” said Ms Plibersek.

Energetica’s Director Lisa Harvey said the launch of the new Clearinghouse website will provide a central place for agencies and workers in the field to find and share information about good practice, issue management, research and case studies on homelessness in Australia.

Ms Harvey said: “Many organisations in the sector work in isolation and a single source of information will provide an efficient way to increase their capacity to deliver services to homeless people, and to connect with others working in their field.”

 “The Clearinghouse website has been designed to cope with large amounts of content and includes files for download in the document library, forums, events, and hundreds of articles and documents covering 150 categories of information.”

“The site also includes several of the submissions to the Federal Government's green paper on homelessness,” said Ms Harvey.

Energetica’s experience in working with the community sector and their expertise in building online communities will contribute to a strong and focused information clearing house, allowing people to communicate with each other, work through issues and collaborate on shared resources and new ideas.
The Clearinghouse site is an initiative of the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP), National Coordination and Development Committee (CAD).
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For more information:
Bernadette Marr, CP Communications

About Energetica
Energetica provides IT advice, strategy and web-based technology to the not-for-profit community. They help organisations build online communities. They help organisations build their IT capacity and manage it into the future by understanding the unique requirements of not-for-profit community-based, member-based organisations and SMEs. Energetica works with SMEs, peak bodies, trade unions, charities, associations and community organisations.  www.energetica.com.au