Commissioning Homelessness Services: A Review of Possible Approaches

The report seeks to inform and empower the sector to contribute to the design of the new commissioning arrangements. [...] It draws on Australian and international literature to look beyond dominant models of contracting, such as direct contracting with government to identify, and explore the range of alternatives through which governments and the sector can work together to secure and sustain a supply of quality services, and ensure they are co-ordinated to meet need. [...] Commissioning also offers opportunities to develop organisations and the workforce; to ensure the appropriate mix of providers in specific locations; to address needs of specific cohorts3; and to develop cooperative arrangements between funders and providers. [...] Models reflect the services required; the relationships between purchasers, providers, and clients; the structure and dynamics of markets; and the capacity of funders to deliver services or manage contracts. [...] More recent approaches have increased the length of supply chains, and the distance between the public sector funder and service provider, and ultimately increased the distance between the funder and the consumer.