Page 4394 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
census periods. In the ACT, though, it declined by eight per cent. We were the only jurisdiction in the nation to see a decline, and this decline occurred at the same time as our population grew by 11 per cent. Our rate of homelessness per capita also declined, from around 49 people per 10,000 in 2011 to around 40 people per 10,000 in 2016. These are good outcomes. However, we must also acknowledge that over the same period the number of Canberrans sleeping rough increased to around 50. This shows that there is still more work to be done.
Much of Canberra’s success in reducing homelessness can be attributed to our focus on intervening early before a person reaches crisis point. We work with homelessness services and the broader sector to prioritise people at risk of becoming homeless as well as providing crisis responses for those who are experiencing homelessness. We have a central intake model, which means that we do not turn people away but instead prioritise their need and connect them with services. We provide more than 300 accommodation places for the specialist homelessness sector. The government funds services ranging from crisis accommodation to preventative and early intervention tenancy support and services such as counselling, financial management and living skills.
The contribution to an individual’s life outcomes of having a stable home cannot be overstated. We know that secure and affordable housing is fundamental for people to be included and participate in our community.
In October last year we launched the ACT housing strategy. Goal 2 of this strategy commits the ACT government to reducing homelessness by building strong ACT government and community sector partnerships to effectively address homelessness in the territory; intervening early and reducing intergenerational impacts of homelessness; addressing gaps in our services system and responding to new and emerging groups vulnerable to homelessness; improving pathways out of homelessness; developing a strong and sustainable homelessness services sector to support and enhance the workforce and organisational capability within the sector; and establishing an integrated and coordinated human services system across the territory government. The strategy also sets out an implementation plan, with actions over the next decade to achieve these goals, and provides a mechanism to monitor and report on our progress.
I would like to take the opportunity this afternoon to acknowledge the advocacy work being undertaken by the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors to reduce homelessness in our capital cities. Earlier this year the CCCLM, of which Canberra is a member, met with several commonwealth ministers to discuss how the different levels of government in our nation could work together to address homelessness. I was in Melbourne earlier this month for the CCCLM annual general meeting and homelessness summit, which was hosted by the Melbourne Lord Mayor, Sally Capp, at which we heard from experts from across Australia. If we are to reduce homelessness across our nation, it is clear that all levels of government must work together.
Of course, there is one way that we can make almost immediate inroads into our homelessness figures. I was very pleased to hear the recent announcement that the
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video