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State and territory governments have indicated their intention to collaborate on the government’s plans to boost social housing and stem homelessness, according to the federal minister for housing and homelessness.
Commenting at the start of Australia’s national homelessness week, Julie Collins said that she’d had “a very productive meeting with state and territory housing ministers last month” and reported they had “pledged to work together to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable Australians”.
She noted that the focus at the moment was on creating a strategic road map to be able to tackle the complicated nature of the nation’s housing problems.
“This year’s theme is ‘to end homelessness we need a plan’, and our plan will address the complex challenges facing our housing system — from homelessness to increasing supply of social and affordable housing,” Ms Collins said.
The housing minister didn’t shy away from acknowledging the magnitude of the task ahead.
“According to the 2016 census, in Australia there are over 116,000 people experiencing homelessness, and this figure is unacceptable,” she said.
“Of these, over 51,000 were homelessness due to severe overcrowding and 8,200 were rough sleepers.”
The government is looking to make moves on some of its big election promises, with Ms Collins once again reiterating the intention of establishing the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, which aims to deliver 30,000 new social and affordable homes within the first five years.
The fund will be set up to generate investment returns to fund initiatives to stem acute housing needs. These include $100 million for crisis and transitional housing options for women fleeing family and domestic violence and older women on low incomes, as well as $30 million for specialist services for veterans who are sleeping rough.
The fund will also provide $200 million for the repair, maintenance and improvements of housing in remote Indigenous communities.
“Our reforms aim to ensure every Australian has access to safe and affordable housing to improve social and economic outcomes for all Australians, including those at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness,” Ms Collins said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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