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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 2011 ..

Heritage) (8.02): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the following paper:

Homelessness Strategy—Breaking the cycle, dated April 2004.

I ask for leave to make a statement.

Leave granted.

MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, it is my pleasure today to table the ACT homelessness strategy, a document we have called Breaking the cycle. It forms part of the overarching Canberra social plan with its core principles of access, equity and participation. It reflects the government’s commitment to tackle this very serious community issue in a comprehensive and sustainable way. The strategy provides a set of 82 practical actions over the next four years to reduce the incidence of homelessness in the territory. It outlines a range of measures to assist and support people who are at risk of homelessness.

There was extensive consultation at all stages of the strategy’s development, commencing with the formation of the 20-member Homelessness Advisory Group in June 2002. This strategy had the input of some 240 people in the community sector, as well as 144 people who had experienced, or were at risk of, homelessness.

The government initially commissioned the ACT Council of Social Service to undertake a needs analysis to gauge the nature and extent of homelessness in the territory. This analysis and other research acquired during the strategy’s development indicated a fundamental change in the nature of homelessness.

In the 1960s, the homeless population predominately comprised middle aged and older men. In 2001, 46 per cent of homeless people lived in supported accommodation, improvised dwellings or on the street, and they were aged 12 to 24 years. And 11 per cent were children under 12, ostensibly living with their parents. The old stereotypes of homelessness no longer fit. We now see children returning to refuges as adults. This is a situation that is totally unacceptable to the government. We must, with the support of the community, break this cycle of disadvantage.

The homelessness strategy recognises that most people are not homeless by choice. Homelessness increasingly occurs in the context of a complex set of circumstances. It affects men, women and children from all economic and cultural backgrounds in circumstances that include domestic violence, mental health issues, breakdown of family support, substance misuse, unemployment, sexual abuse and problem gambling. Solutions to homelessness clearly involve more than just a provision of secure accommodation. People who are homeless or at risk of homelessness have individual needs and these require coordinated, timely and appropriate support. This requires strong collaborative partnerships between the government and community agencies that plan, fund, administer and deliver services.

Members will be aware that the government has underpinned this strategy with a special budget allocation of $13.4 million specifically to target the causes and effects of homelessness. We have also committed a one-off allocation of $33 million in extra

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