Media Release by The Hon Mark Butler MP

Victoria, Commonwealth to deliver funds for national homelessness agreement

Joint Media Release with:

  • Hon Wendy Lovell
    Minister for Housing
    Minister for Children and Early
    Childhood Development

The Australian and Victorian Government today announced nearly $50 million in joint funding will be provided through the 2013-14 transitional homelessness agreement.

The announcement follows the commitment made by all states and territories at the March meeting of the COAG Select Council on Housing and Homelessness, where ministers confirmed their ongoing commitment to homelessness services funded under the current National Partnership Agreement.

Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness Mark Butler and Victorian Minister for Housing Wendy Lovell today announced the joint federal-state commitment to provide $49.4 million for the agreement.

“In early March, the Australian Government committed up to $159 million nationally to ensure service delivery could continue after the current agreement expires on 30 June this year, conditional on the states committing to funding their contribution, and I’m very pleased that the Victorian Government has confirmed that commitment,” Mr Butler said.

“Victoria will now be invited to bid for a portion of the capital and development fund as part of a competitive process, which will also require a matching contribution from the state,” Mr Butler said.

“Applications for the capital fund close on 14 May and I would encourage all states to finance their share of the agreement to guarantee their state also has access to the fund,” Mr Butler said.

Ms Lovell said the Victorian Government had been working closely with service providers to take a holistic and innovative approach to tackling homelessness.

“The Victorian Government is working to reduce homelessness across the state, and this partnership with the Australian Government is key to making sure our efforts achieve results,” Ms Lovell said.

“The strong partnership between the State Government and service providers is helping to turn lives around by making sure that Victorians who need it most have access to support when they need it,” Ms Lovell said.

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.