States and ACT add their signatures to Federal Government’s National Homelessness Agreement

Five of the states and territories have now signed on to the Federal Government’s National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness for 2013/14 guaranteeing federal funds will flow to their states.

Mr Butler said the Commonwealth had put up to $159 million on the table in March on the condition that states matched funding.

“New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the ACT have all signed on to the agreement, which also makes them eligible to bid for further funding under the Development Fund as part of a competitive process,” Mr Butler said.

“Applications for the Development Fund close today, so I urge remaining state governments to finance their share of this agreement to guarantee their state also has access to the fund.”

“This funding will ensure services which help give people a hand up every day have the certainty they need to continue delivering critical support.”

Mr Butler said achieving real results in reducing homelessness was only possible through joint responsibility and collaborative action.

“The transitional agreement provides funding to the sector over the next 12 months, while the Australian and state and territory governments negotiate a longer-term response to homelessness.”

“It’s now time for Queensland, WA and the Northern Territory to provide surety to homelessness service providers and their clients by committing their share of funds and signing the agreement as soon as possible.”

The National Partnership Agreement is part of the Federal Government’s $26 billion investment in housing and homelessness, which aims to halve the rate of homelessness by 2020.