The peak body for
Australia’s community welfare sector, ACOSS, has welcomed a Federal Government announcement that it will provide matched funding
for a new homelessness agreement with the states and territories.
‘This commitment is
welcomed and we now call on the states and territories to come on
board and negotiate an agreement when housing ministers meet on
Friday,’ said ACOSS chief executive, Dr Cassandra Goldie (pictured).
‘The release of ABS
figures this week showing that homelessness continues to rise in
Australia makes it imperative that an agreement is reached as soon as
possible. We simply must act if we are to prevent more people falling into
poverty and onto the streets.
‘ACOSS welcomes Housing
and Homelessness Minister Brendan O’Connor’s statement that a new
partnership will be based on matched funding and framed by the core
principles of prevention, early intervention and breaking the cycle of
homelessness.
‘We know that without a
National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness the level of
homelessness would be even worse. We also know that investment in areas
such as the social housing initiative have made a positive impact on
homelessness services. But there is still a long way to go,’ Dr Goldie said.
Read the ACOSS media
release
Related story: Census shows sharp rise in homelessness
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