Media Release by The Hon Tanya Pibersek MP

$154.8 million to reduce Victorian homelessness

Joint Media Release with:

  • The Hon Richard Wynne MP, Victorian Housing Minister

The Australian Government and the Victorian Government are providing $154.8 million over four years to reduce homelessness in Victoria, as part of the National Partnership Agreement (NPA) on Homelessness.

In addition, $54.94 million is being provided for the A Place to Call Home initiative.

Federal Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek, and Victorian Minister for Housing, Richard Wynne, said the Australian Government is working with the Victorian Government and homelessness services to meet ambitious but achievable targets.

The State and the Federal government have worked together to allocate this funding to a range of initiatives including:

  • More than $20 million for early intervention services targeted at young people to help them reconnect with family, education and employment;
  • More than $15 million for homelessness support agencies’ staff to be better skilled and equipped to deal with the increasing complexity and intensity of assistance needed;
  • More than $26 million to enhance the mainstream service system;
  • More than $15 million for responses targeting chronic homelessness;
  • More than $11 million to implement new specialist services for families and children;
  • More than $12 million to enhance and expand support for people to maintain their tenancies; and
  • More than $20 million to support women and children who experience family violence, to stay safely in the family home.

‘There needs to be significant change and additional resources if we are to meet our national targets as outlined in the White Paper on Homelessness,’ Ms Plibersek said.

‘Through the National Partnership Agreement, we are working to make significant progress to provide additional support for people who are, or are at risk of becoming homeless and improve delivery of mainstream services.’

Mr Wynne said the agreement recognises new, recurrent and capital funding provided in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 State Budgets.

‘We have set ourselves ambitious targets and in Victoria there is no reason why these targets can’t be reached. The Victorian Government has a long history of developing new approaches to tackle homelessness,’ Mr Wynne said.

‘We are determined to break the cycle of homelessness, through a mix of initiatives, and this investment will further build on the work we have achieved to date.’