Homelessness services under threat amid surging demand

Homelessness services are under threat at a time of surging demand as fears mount that the Commonwealth Government will defund hundreds of specialist homelessness support workers around the country.

St Vincent de Paul Society National President Claire Victory today urged the Commonwealth Government to continue Equal Remuneration Order funding for specialist homelessness services, which ceases on 1 July 2023.

‘Specialist homelessness service organisations face a crisis of uncertainty, job losses and cuts to services if the Commonwealth Government walks away from its responsibility to support Australians facing homelessness,’ Ms Victory said.

‘This will impact homelessness services’ ability to support the growing number of Australians falling into homelessness amid the escalating cost-of-living crisis.

‘Specialist homelessness services are already turning away 288 requests for assistance per day – and we know that of those assisted last year, just over 40 per cent experienced family violence and around one-third had a current mental health issue.

‘We call on the Commonwealth Government to maintain current ERO funding levels of $65 million a year – it would be unconscionable to reduce service levels during an unprecedented cost-of-living and housing crisis that is pushing more Australians into homelessness,’ Ms Victory said.