Released 24/01/2017
A national report released today shows that the ACT Government’s social housing system is continuing to provide homes to those in greatest need while homelessness services are supporting people to change their lives.
The 2017 Report on Government Services (RoGS) has again shown the reach and effectiveness of the ACT’s social housing system, which consecutive Labor governments have grown to be the most significant in Australia.
The report shows the ACT’s specialist homelessness services provided support to 4,652 people in 2015-16. For the majority of the people, the assistance was either in the form of accommodation (39.8%) or to sustain their housing and prevent them from falling into homelessness (39.6%).
Of those people who needed income assistance when entering homelessness services, 93% had an income source after this support, the second highest proportion of any state or territory.
Of the 254 clients requiring employment and/or training support, 23.1% were employed after support, the highest proportion nationally. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 24.8% were employed after support, more than double the national proportion of 12.1%.
Reflecting the ACT Government’s commitment to providing housing where it is needed most, 96.8% of new public housing in the ACT was allocated to households in the greatest need.
This included people who had been homeless, escaping domestic and family violence, in unhealthy living conditions or who were facing unaffordable housing costs.
The RoGS findings are a reminder of the clear need for federal funding certainty under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH).
The Commonwealth needs to do better than the current one-year outlook which creates ongoing uncertainty for service providers, their staff and clients.
I have consistently advocated for a longer term commitment from the federal government and last August I announced new funding arrangements for the ACT’s 48 homelessness services for a minimum of three years from 1 July 2016 with provision of an extension for two further years.
Under these agreements the government will invest $63 million during the first three years alone.
ACT Labor also committed to a new housing strategy as a key part of our election platform last October.
I initiated the first consultations around this strategy in mid-2016 and am looking forward to working closely with our housing and homelessness sectors and others in related fields to deliver this commitment.
- Statement ends -
Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases
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