States Commit to Tackle Homelessness
16 November 2012 at 5:29 pm
State and Territory Governments have agreed to enter into negotiations for a new National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O'Connor said Ministers at today's Select Council on Housing and Homelessness meeting in Brisbane agreed, subject to Cabinet processes, to enter into the negotiations.
They also agreed, subject to Cabinet processes, to work on a one-year transition partnership agreement for 2013-14 while the new long-term agreement is negotiated.
The Federal Government has committed to providing half the funding of a one-year extension of the current National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) while a new deal is renegotiated with the States and Territories.
The announcement comes after the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that homeless figures were up 8% since 2006 and follows strong pressure from the Not for Profit community.
"We look forward to States and Territories getting the agreement of their Cabinets at the earliest opportunity," O'Connor said.
"It is promising that the States and Territories have agreed to an ongoing commitment to work together, and to the three overarching strategies of prevention, early intervention and breaking the cycle of homelessness.
"I look forward to continuing to work with State and Territory colleagues to negotiate the most effective ways to invest taxpayers' dollars and help vulnerable people have the best lives possible."
