Homelessness Australia has welcomed the Greens’ plan to end homelessness by investing in evidence-based models.
The Greens Party has proposed increased homelessness support funding and construction of 50,000 Housing First tenancies, which it said were based on a housing and support model shown to be successful in ending chronic homelessness.
The group said the Greens had also proposed doubling federal funding to the states for homelessness support and social housing.
“We know Australians are understandably concerned by seeing more and more people sleeping rough.
“Our housing crisis has only worsened, with even people on middle incomes struggling to find homes they can afford,” Homelessness Australia CEO Kate Colvin said.
“If we are going to fix homelessness, we need to fix the housing crisis and provide the support people need to keep their home when they have health problems and other support needs.
“So we welcome this proposal from the Greens to build more social housing and supported housing options for those experiencing chronic homelessness.
“We also need homelessness services to be able to help people when they are in crisis, instead of having to turn people away. So we welcome this proposal to increase homelessness funding.
“This policy would make an enormous difference to people who have not been able to get back into homes, and would have an immediate and ongoing impact on the number of people rough sleeping,” Kate Colvin said.
“Australia is facing a homelessness emergency, with chronic homelessness at record levels,“ she said.
