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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 4 Hansard (3 April) . . Page.. 1333 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

commissioned the Council of Social Service to undertake a needs analysis. I have mentioned some of that. That report was delivered to government in July last year.

In September we conducted a community consultation forum to test the veracity of the report's findings and identify priorities. The homelessness advisory group in the department has begun the task of developing a homelessness strategy. The strategy will allow us to build on the strong community and government partnerships that have been developed so far.

The simple provision of a roof over one's head is not a cure-all for homelessness. I think Mr Hargreaves mentioned that. The circumstances which lead to people becoming homeless are much more multifaceted than the loss of secure accommodation. Our response to this problem, therefore, must embrace, as well as address, the complexity of the issue.

Through the strategy, the ACT will have, for the first time, an integrated, planned response to homelessness. The strategy will ensure the effort to be put in over the next few years will have long-term sustainable community benefits.

In order to ensure we have a better understanding of the dynamics of the transition between supported accommodation and long-term sustainable housing options, later this year I will host a housing transition forum. The forum will bring together people and services from the supported accommodation and the long-term housing sectors to discuss how we build in better pathways between those sectors. The purpose will be to draw out the policy and program blockages in the current system and devise new ways to build the capacity of residents to sustain long-term housing. The forum will be based on the findings of the needs analysis, as well as the report of the affordable housing task force.

In this context, we will monitor the need for additional accommodation and support services for homeless men and their children, examine ways of providing more appropriately designed crisis accommodation facilities for homeless families, and continue to provide ongoing funding for intervention programs for boys to prevent the perpetuation of domestic violence.

It is clear that tackling the very complex issue of homelessness will require a determined effort. I am confident that through the enhanced partnership arrangements we will rise to the challenge.

Members will be aware that I recently announced the establishment of an emergency accommodation fund of up to $60,000 per year, excluding rental bonds, to allow demand for emergency housing assistance to be met in a flexible needs-based manner. Anglicare manages this fund. A separate rental bonds program is being established to assist private tenants to access long-term housing.

The department has also developed a central referral and information service provided by Lifeline as the hub of an integrated system of accommodation systems. I think I have made the point here before that, instead of ringing around a large number of bodies, you can ring one number. The Canberra emergency accommodation fund will provide assistance in accessing emergency accommodation, which might mean entering motel

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