FED: Financial crisis important in tackling homelessness

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2008
FED: Financial crisis important in tackling homelessness

CANBERRA, Dec 22 AAP - Tackling homelessness depends on how well the Rudd government
deals with the financial crisis, the federal opposition says.

The government has announced a $1.2 billion package that it says will halve the number
of homeless people in Australia by 2020.

More than 100,000 people are homeless each night and about 16,000 sleep rough in the
streets and parks.

The government will halve this by funding 50,000 rental homes for low-income earners,
3,000 homes for the homeless and a range of services.

Opposition housing spokesman Scott Morrison says reaching the targets will also depend
on how well the economy is protected from the financial crisis.

"If there are 200,000 more unemployed people over the next 12 months then that is going
to put real strain and pressure on homelessness services and other public housing services,"

he told ABC Television on Monday.

"The efficient and responsible management of our economy is as important in addressing
this issue as anything else."

Federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek said the targets are ambitious and will be
hard to meet, but are necessary to get the ball rolling.

"This is an ambitious target, it is going to be hard to reach this target," Ms Plibersek
told ABC Television.

Welfare group Hanover says the package brings "substantial and deep reform" and the
targets will be met.

"It can be done," the group's chief executive Tony Keenan told ABC Television.

The Mercy Foundation says it's important the funds are not only spent on crisis accommodation.

Mercy Foundation chief Felicity Reynolds said support services help keep people off the streets.

"That might mean clinical help ... someone coming to help them with independent tasks
... ensuring they get on-going training," Ms Reynolds told ABC Radio.

Ms Plibersek said funding will go towards personal helpers and mentors to help people
stay in accommodation.

"It is very important that they (homeless) are at least connected to the system and
that they're getting the benefit they are entitled to."

AAP sld/kms/maur

KEYWORD: HOMELESS UPDATE

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.