Homelessness funding hasn’t increased during the life of the Albanese Government, advocates say, leaving women fleeing domestic violence vulnerable. Source: The Australian.
An analysis of budget funding commitments shows federal money for two homelessness programs, touted as increases, merely took funding to what had been spent in previous budgets, they say.
But the Government insists more money has been allocated to homeless programs as part of the $9.3 billion National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness.
Homelessness Australia says despite the Government’s claim in the 2024 budget that NASHH had been boosted by an additional $423 million, that funding only reversed a previously announced cut in the forward estimates and was not an increase on money actually spent this financial year.
And the other commitment in the budget to double commonwealth homelessness funding to $400 million each year, to be matched by the states and territories under a federal agreement, was simply a recognition of current arrangements, they say, as the states were already contributing more than $400 million each year.
“While over the life of the Government there has been additional investment in social housing and temporary resources have been made permanent, the overall funding to homelessness services hasn’t increased,” Homelessness Australia CEO Kate Colvin said.
“Homelessness services are turning away 295 people a day, 80 per cent of them women and children. It’s difficult without additional investment to meet the needs of this growing number who need support.
Federal Housing and Homelessness Minister Julie Collins said “too many Australians don’t have a safe and affordable place to call home” and the Government was spending $32 billion on new housing initiatives.
“This includes the new $9.3 billion National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness, with a doubling of commonwealth homelessness funding to $400 million every year (for five years), matched by states and territories,” Ms Collins said.
FULL STORY
Government’s homelessness funding boost claims overblown, advocates say (By Stephen Lunn, The Australian)
