Dr. Stephanie Holt:

If I can add to that by going back to the families most recently entering homelessness, approximately 80% of them stated they had sought advice and support before becoming homeless and this advice was sought from the housing authority with which they engaged. This offers a golden window of opportunity to engage with families and to integrate that risk and assessment piece. The Chairman referred earlier to hearing a number of submissions previously on the subject of addiction in particular, and with domestic violence, one will encounter multi-layered issues. One will get addiction and all the other bits that make it more complex, which is why there is a need for a much earlier risk and assessment piece to inform safe housing options fully. If the committee wants a recommendation, this is where it starts, namely, that this risk and assessment piece must be carried out much earlier.