Media Release by The Hon Scott Morrison MP

More Homelessness Funding

Federal Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Scott Morrison and NSW Minister for Family and Community Services, Hon. Gabrielle Upton, today announced an agreement on the 2014-15 NSW implementation plan for the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH).

This will enable all of the new specialist homelessness services in NSW to receive almost 10 per cent more funding under the NPAH.

It will support the roll out of $86 million across NSW in 2014-15 to help homelessness service providers consolidate the recent Going Home Staying Home reforms of specialist homelessness services in NSW.

“The Commonwealth acknowledges the important work of the NSW Government to address the causes and impacts of homelessness across NSW,” Minister Morrison said.

“Over 70 per cent of the new funding under the NPAH in NSW will be distributed to specialist homelessness services in 2014-15,” Minister Upton said.

“This will mean that specialist homelessness services that were successful under Going Home Staying Home will receive a top up of almost 10 per cent of their funding to help them deliver more and better homelessness services.

“This funding will help providers give people in need the right help, when and where they need it.

“NPAH funds will also be allocated to a number of initiatives which will provide new support and accommodation options,” Minister Upton said.

“For example, the NSW Government is allocating $2.5m to the Connect 100 initiative – increasing accommodation options outside the inner city, so that people who are homeless can be located closer to family or support networks rather than moving to the inner city.

“The NSW Government will separately allocate funds to purchase up to 25 new properties for young people and women escaping domestic and family violence, including through the newly-established Address Housing Company and Myfoundations Housing Company.

“I am pleased that as a result of the NPAH funding into service delivery, NSW is able to free-up funding to increase the supply of housing – this is an excellent outcome for NSW,” Minister Upton said.

Minister Morrison said: “I appreciate that the sector is interested in an early announcement about funding beyond 30 June 2015. Future arrangements for the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness will be considered in the context of the 2015-16 Budget, while longer-term arrangements for housing assistance and homelessness services will be considered in the context of the White Paper on Reform of the Federation the government has commissioned.”