The High Density Housing Safety and Community program (HDHP) is a multi-agency initiative designed to improve the lives of and reduce recidivism rates for residents, and is targeted at high and complex needs residents, including socially disengaged and isolated people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, children, and youth who have had contact with or are at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system.
Reclink Australia delivers the HDHP in collaboration with the Justice and Community Safety Directorate, Community Services Directorate, ACT Health, and ACT Policing.
This program was a national winner in the 2013 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards, in recognition of excellence by the Australian Heads of Government and Standing Council on Police and Emergency Management.
It has demonstrated significant effectiveness in the area by:
Reducing violent crime by 50%
Reducing property crime by 60%
Reducing disturbance incidents by 60%
Increasing levels of social cohesion among residents
Contributing to a 71% reduction of assault offences across a six year evaluation period
This research was undertaken by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) in 2016-2017.