A new approach to homelessness
On any one night 100,000* Australians are homeless and the problem seems to be getting worse. On 27 January 2008, the Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, and the Hon Tanya Pilbersek MP, Minister for Housing, announced that the government would develop a comprehensive, long-term plan to implement interventions that actually work.
Following community consultations, the government released a White Paper on Homelessness - The Road Home.
*Counting the Homeless 2001, ABS Cat 2050.0
Short-term assistance
The major short-term assistance for the homeless comes from the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP)
Improving housing affordability in the long term
Three new programs have been implemented to help improve the affordability of housing:
- The National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) will stimulate the supply of up to 50,000 new affordable rental dwellings. For more information, visit the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website.
- The Housing Affordability Fund will invest up to $512 million over five years to lower the cost of building new homes. For more information, visit the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website.
- The New remote housing system will be facilitated by the revamp of the Commonwealth Property Disposal policy. For more information, visit the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website.
More information