Advance to Zero resources

• + - 1. Getting started with Advance to Zero

  Fact sheet: An introduction to Advance to Zero

  Advance to Zero (AtoZ) is a national initiative of the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH) that supports local communities to end homelessness, starting with rough sleeping – one community at a time.

  Read fact sheet →

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  Getting started with Advance to Zero toolkit

  This toolkit has been developed to help communities who are considering Advance to Zero (AtoZ) as a framework for ending homelessness. You’ll learn more about how AtoZ works and be guided through key concepts, initial steps and decision points to get you started.

  This toolkit:

  • introduces the AtoZ initiative
  • provides a guide that helps you decide if AtoZ is something for your community
  • takes you through the steps to create your community’s own plan to end homelessness and establish key data to track and prioritise your work.

  Download toolkit →

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  How we can help on your community's journey towards ending homelessness
  

  An overview of services offered by the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH), indicative costs and how we work in partnership with communities to end homelessness.

  Learn more →

• + - 2. Fact sheets

  Fact sheet: An introduction to Advance to Zero

  Advance to Zero (AtoZ) is a national initiative of the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH) that supports local communities to end homelessness, starting with rough sleeping – one community at a time.

  Read fact sheet →
  

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  What is a by-name list (BNL)?

  Learn how communities use shared data to end homelessness.

  Read fact sheet →
  

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  About Advance to Zero (AtoZ) databases (national overview)
  

  A general guide explaining the purpose of an AtoZ database. Learn about the different AtoZ-aligned databases used in each state, what they do and how they support local efforts to end homelessness.

  Read fact sheet →

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  About the AAEH AtoZ Database (WA, SA and regional Victoria)

  A detailed guide to the database platform offered by the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH), currently in use in WA, SA and regional Victoria, including its features, privacy safeguards and development roadmap.

  Read fact sheet →

• + - 3. Tools and data (including AHVTT)

  Australian Homelessness Vulnerability Triage Tool (AHVTT)
  

  The Australian Homelessness Vulnerability Triage Tool (AHVTT) is a tool that helps homelessness services to triage support for people experiencing homelessness in their community.

  Based on people's disclosed information, the AHVTT helps to provide the right housing, healthcare and community services for individuals and families according to their current needs.

  Organisations can also use collective, de-identified data from the AHVTT to advocate for the changes and resources needed to end homelessness in a community, based on the needs of those experiencing homelessness and housing stress in that community.

  The AHVTT was developed by the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH) and partners, including OrgCode Consulting and Micah Projects. Frontline services, First Nations representatives and people with lived experience provided crucial feedback to ensure the tool accurately represents a person’s presenting experience of homelessness and their immediate needs.

  The AHVTT is intended for use as part of Advance to Zero, a national initiative that supports local collaborative efforts to end homelessness.

  The tool is the replacement for the previous Advance to Zero screening tool called the Vulnerability Index – Service Prioritisation Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT). AAEH support for the VI-SPDAT was discontinued from July 2024.

  Australian Homelessness Vulnerability Triage Tool (AHVTT) survey

  • AHVTT – Individuals (reference only)*
  • AHVTT – Youth (reference only)*
  • AHVTT – Families (reference only)*

  About the AHVTT

  These resources help to explain the AHVTT to people answering the survey.

  • Poster
  • Brochure
    
    

  *You must complete AHVTT training to gain access to the non-reference version and begin administering the AHVTT. Check our events page for upcoming sessions or contact us at info@aaeh.org.au.

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  Rough sleepers by-name list scorecard 1.1

  This scorecard will help your AtoZ community determine whether it has quality data for all people sleeping rough — or formerly sleeping rough and now in temporary accommodation or refuge — in your community. Once your community has quality data for these populations, you can leverage the data you collect to drive reductions in your list and reach functional zero homelessness in your community.
  

  View scorecard →

• + - 4. Campaigns and events

  Connections Week toolkit

  A Connections Week is a key tool in the Advance to Zero approach. It’s a focused, community-led event to:

  • identify by name every person in the community who is sleeping rough and/or experiencing long-term homelessness
  • understand their health, housing and support needs by using a standardised survey tool called the Australian Homelessness Vulnerability Triage Tool (AHVTT)
  • share findings with the community and decision-makers to build momentum for housing solutions

  This toolkit guides you through how to facilitate a Connections Week in your community.

  View toolkit →
  View supporting materials and sample documents →