Heroin use arguably sits at the centre of some of the most serious social problems experienced by Australians. A considerable body of research has been compiled, in respect of both the aetiology of heroin addiction and the policy options for the control of illicit drugs. Much of this research has been informed by not always helpful intellectual and practical assumptions. However, little if any research has tried to capture the experience of heroin users, and their social relationships and practices. In this research, we report on the social experience of heroin users in regard to housing as a prelude to establishing what housing policies better assist heroin users in the community. Certainly there is a prima facie case, given the costs associated with housing provision and heroin use, for exploring and better
understanding the relationship between housing and heroin use.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.................................................................................................................. I
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... i
Project Aims................................................................................................................................... i
Policy Context ................................................................................................................................ i
Literature Review........................................................................................................................... i
Methodology.................................................................................................................................. ii
Research Findings ........................................................................................................................ ii
1  INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1
2  HOUSING AND HEALTH: SEEKING A WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT POLICY
RESPONSE .................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1  Heroin use and health policy ............................................................................................. 4
2.2  Heroin use and the physical environment ......................................................................... 4
2.2.1  Policy Focus: Broadening the context ............................................................................... 5
2.2.2  Heroin use and homeless persons services...................................................................... 5
2.3  The housing policy context ................................................................................................ 5
2.4  Policy Relevance – A whole of government response ...................................................... 6
3  LAYING THE FOUNDATION: RESEARCH INTO LINKS BETWEEN DRUG USE AND
HOUSING........................................................................................................................................ 8
3.1  Introduction........................................................................................................................ 8
3.2  In what ways do accommodation options affect the wellbeing and social experience
of heroin users?............................................................................................................................... 8
3.2.1  Private Accommodation..................................................................................................... 8
3.2.2  Public Housing................................................................................................................... 9
3.2.3  Rooming Houses............................................................................................................. 10
3.2.4  Homelessness................................................................................................................. 11
3.3  In what ways does current service provision for heroin users address their housing
needs? 12
3.4  What changes in current service provision and housing policies would improve the
social opportunities of heroin users?............................................................................................. 13
3.4.1  Conclusion....................................................................................................................... 14
4  INVESTIGATING HEROIN USE AND HOUSING .................................................................. 15
4.1  Introduction...................................................................................................................... 15
4.2  Research methods .......................................................................................................... 15
4.2.1  Literature review..............................................................................................................15
4.2.2  Ethnographic interviews .................................................................................................. 15
4.2.3  Survey ............................................................................................................................. 17
4.2.4  Service provider focus groups ......................................................................................... 17
4.3  Research locations.......................................................................................................... 18
4.3.1  Inner City Melbourne – Fitzroy and Collingwood............................................................. 18
4.3.2  Geelong........................................................................................................................... 19
4.3.3  Cabramatta/Fairfield, South Western Sydney ................................................................. 19
5  ‘A VERY STABLE LIFE STYLE’: A PORTRAIT OF HEROIN USERS, 2001-2002 ................ 21
5.1  Introduction...................................................................................................................... 21
5.2  Who are they? Identity as a heroin user.......................................................................... 22
5.3  Who are they? Demographics......................................................................................... 25
5.3.1  Age and Gender .............................................................................................................. 25
5.3.2  Ethnicity........................................................................................................................... 26
5.4  On Housing......................................................................................................................27
5.5  Initiating heroin use and leaving home............................................................................ 29
5.5.1  Starting to use heroin ...................................................................................................... 29
5.5.2  Leaving home.................................................................................................................. 32
5.6  Heroin and housing – The need for income .................................................................... 35
5.7  Education/Training........................................................................................................... 37
5.7.1  Summary .........................................................................................................................38
6  ‘WE SLEEP WITH AN IRON BAR UNDER OUR BED’ HOUSING, HEROIN AND SOCIAL
WELLBEING ................................................................................................................................. 39
6.1  Introduction...................................................................................................................... 39
6.2  Private rental accommodation......................................................................................... 40
6.2.1  Rental affordability...........................................................................................................40
6.2.2  Rental accessibility.......................................................................................................... 41
6.2.3  Private accommodation and the desire for space of one’s own ...................................... 42
6.3  Public rental accommodation .......................................................................................... 43
6.3.1  Public housing location.................................................................................................... 44
6.4  Short-term accommodation options................................................................................. 44
6.4.1  Rooming houses.............................................................................................................. 44
6.4.2  Community / transitional housing .................................................................................... 45
6.4.3  Emergency accommodation............................................................................................ 46
6.4.4  ‘Informal’ housing options................................................................................................ 46
6.4.5  Family and friends ........................................................................................................... 47
6.4.6  Short-term accommodation – Some general observations ............................................. 48
6.5  ‘Sleeping rough’...............................................................................................................48
6.6  The bigger picture: injecting drug use and health............................................................ 51
6.6.1  General health.................................................................................................................51
6.6.2  Public health concerns .................................................................................................... 51
6.7  The bigger picture: location and managing heroin use.................................................... 52
6.8  The bigger picture: housing and choice........................................................................... 53
6.9  Aspirations: housing, a home and autonomy .................................................................. 55
6.10  Heroin and housing: Some preliminary conclusions........................................................ 55
7  ‘I WANT THEM OFF MY FLOOR’ SERVICE PROVISION FOR LONG TERM HEROIN
USERS.......................................................................................................................................... 57
7.1  Introduction...................................................................................................................... 57
7.2  Public housing service provision and heroin use............................................................. 58
7.2.1  The availability of public housing..................................................................................... 58
7.2.2  Additional demands on the public housing system.......................................................... 60
7.2.3  Loss of amenity ............................................................................................................... 60
7.2.4  Increased complexity of housing management ............................................................... 63
7.2.5  Integrating housing and support services........................................................................ 65
7.3  Heroin users on their experience of public housing......................................................... 66
7.4  Establishing ‘sustainable tenancies’ for long-term heroin users...................................... 68
7.5  What is the relationship between service provision and housing? .................................. 69
7.6  Housing and access to health services ........................................................................... 70
7.7  Housing and access to drug treatment services.............................................................. 71
7.7.1  The need for accommodation.......................................................................................... 72
7.7.2  Maintenance Treatment................................................................................................... 72
7.7.3  Withdrawal services and accommodation ....................................................................... 73
7.8  Family and community services and child protection ...................................................... 74
7.9  Concluding Comments .................................................................................................... 75
8  CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................ 77
8.1  Social housing provision and improvement ..................................................................... 78
8.2  Locating drug markets in cities ........................................................................................ 79
8.3  Engaging heroin users in program development ............................................................. 80
8.4  Service provider knowledge and understanding.............................................................. 80
9  REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 82
10  APPENDIX 1 - SURVEY DATA .............................................................................................. 93
10.1  Introduction...................................................................................................................... 93
10.2  A note on the use of surveys ........................................................................................... 93
10.2.1  The difficulties of recruitment........................................................................................... 93
10.2.2 Some methodological issues........................................................................................... 93
10.3  The Data - Demographics ............................................................................................... 94
10.3.1 Age .................................................................................................................................. 94
10.3.2 Gender............................................................................................................................. 95
10.3.3 Education......................................................................................................................... 96
10.3.4 Employment Status ......................................................................................................... 97
10.3.5 Sources of Income........................................................................................................... 98
10.4  The Data – Drug Use....................................................................................................... 99
10.5  The Data – Housing and Accommodation..................................................................... 101
10.6  The Data – Crime .......................................................................................................... 106
10.7  The Data – Health ......................................................................................................... 107
10.8  The Data – Social Wellbeing ......................................................................................... 108
10.9  Conclusion.....................................................................................................................110
APPENDIX 1: REFERENCES..................................................................................................... 111
APPENDIX 2 – INTERVIEW GUIDE........................................................................................... 112
APPENDIX 3 – FOCUS GROUP GUIDE .................................................................................... 113
Themes and questions for discussion: ...................................................................................... 113 
 
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