New Homes for the Homeless

The Australian Government will build 600 new homes for the homeless across the country with a $150 million total investment over the next five years. The funds will be used for the construction of new accommodation, spot purchases or the renovation of suitable public housing properties.

As part of the Government’s A Place to Call Home strategy, people will move directly into housing instead of going into refuges and will also receive tenancy and support services for the first 12 months.

Those who move into new housing will not have to leave at the end of the support period. The houses will be transferred to the general public housing pool and their tenancy extended in accordance with normal arrangements for public housing. A Place to Call Home will help reduce the number of homeless people turned away from shelters each year. It will also help them to break out of the cycle of moving in and out of homeless support services.

Funds are being distributed according to data on the number of homeless people in each state and territory from Australian Bureau of Statistics census data.

State and territory governments will match the Australian Government contribution as will also provide support services.

Housing authorities will be required to maintain their existing portfolios to ensure that after five years, there will be an additional 600 dwellings nationally for homeless households to be assisted through A Place to Call Home.

Indigenous people will be provided with homes and support services at least in proportion to their share of the national homeless population.

This Budget allocates $100 million over the next four years, with $50 million in 2012/13.

A Place to Call Home will start in the second half of this year. Distribution of funds between states and territories is as follows: