22 December 2008
Targets to reduce homelessness should be applauded
Prime Minister Rudd should be commended for his pledge to halve the number of homeless by 2020 and provide a bed for anyone sleeping rough. For many years, the community sector has been calling for more public housing and measures to prevent homelessness from occurring. These new measure appear to have the capacity to respond to those calls. While the plan to build up to 2,700 new community and public houses falls well short of meeting the waiting list that stretches to almost 180,000, new measures to prevent homelessness and reconnect families will hopefully lead to shorter waiting lists in the future. Much of the work of Anglicare Victoria is directed toward strengthening families to prevent breakdown. Our experience demonstrates that supportive families are more resilient and less likely to experience extreme or prolonged hardship. I was also pleased to see the Victorian Government announce new measures to protect people living in rooming houses. Tenants of rooming houses are often at risk of homelessness and forced to endure sub-standard conditions due to a lack of housing options. The new measures will force hundreds of previously under-regulated rooming houses to register with local councils therefore providing protection to residents and ensuring the houses meet minimum health standards.
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