Media Release by Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion

Funding for homelessness projects

Minister for Community Services, Senator Nigel Scullion today announced $155,400 in funding to further support Australians who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, at the National Homeless Persons Week breakfast at Parliament House in Canberra.

The breakfast brought together government and sector representatives, business leaders and people who work with Australians experiencing homelessness.

Senator Scullion was pleased that a number of people who had experienced homelessness also attended the breakfast.

‘It is important we have the opportunity to hear first hand the stories of people who have been homeless,’ Senator Scullion said.

National Homelessness Strategy funding announcements included:

  • St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia Inc, $40,000 to contribute to the cost of a conference in Sydney in October for St Vincent de Paul employees across Australia. One of the conference aims is to achieve better outcomes for service delivery in homelessness and mental health.
  • Australian Federation of Homelessness Organisations, $40,000 to contribute to planning for the fifth National Homelessness Conference. The focus of the conference will be on removing barriers to better outcomes for homeless people and sharing best practice.
  • Broome Community Information Resource Centre and Learning Exchange (Broome Circle) $40,000 to develop a coordinated strategy across the Broome community with the aim of improving housing availability and affordability for low income people and increasing effective support available to homeless people and vulnerable tenants.
  • Blair Athol Accommodation and Support Programme, $35,400 to develop and deliver in-service training and resources on best practice responses to homelessness for key health service providers, the Queensland Police and the private rental sector.

‘It is a great pleasure to announce this funding under the National Homelessness Strategy, which was extended as part of the 2005 Budget, with funding of
$10 million over four years,’ Senator Scullion said.