Ahead of the 2021-22 ACT Budget on 6 October, the ACT Government has announced a $26 million package to support the most vulnerable in the Canberra community during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and beyond.
The package includes $8.6 million over three years to expand the capacity of existing services, including specialist homelessness programs that began operating last year during the pandemic.
The latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Specialist Homelessness Services data report from June 2021 shows that in the ACT, out of the 1,822 people who reported as homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, 1,061 (almost 60 per cent) identified as female.
Additionally, out of the 712 clients who reported as experiencing domestic violence, 511 (72 per cent) identified as female, and out of the 672 reporting mental health issues, 427 (64 per cent) were female.
ACT Minister for Homelessness and Housing Services, Rebecca Vassarotti, said Canberra’s specialist homelessness sector was key to improving outcomes for people in need, and the upcoming Budget allocation represented the first increase in base funding for homelessness services in nearly a decade.
“This investment boosts resources for sector organisations, raising their base funding rate by 12.7 per cent. This base funding rate has not increased over approximately the past nine years, so this is a significant commitment to help the sector deliver early intervention, crisis support and improve outcomes for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness,” Ms Vassarotti said.
“This funding builds on recent investments including $1.9 million in the 2020-21 Budget for five specialist homelessness programs in response to COVID-19 as part of the Government’s commitment to increase the capacity of the sector.”
Ms Vassarotti said the ACT’s homelessness and housing services help to ensure all Canberrans, no matter what difficulties they’re facing, can be safe, healthy and feel part of this community.
“The services receiving extra funding in this Budget support people at all ages and life stages, with fundamentals like food, showers, healthcare and clothing, as well as social connection and, ultimately, safe and appropriate housing,” she said.
The package also includes $4.0 million over four years to help community organisations providing these much-needed services to meet wage costs, and a commitment to 2.5 per cent indexation.
YWCA Canberra has welcomed the funding announcements, which CEO Frances Crimmins said would enable them to help many more Canberrans at risk of homelessness or who are currently homeless.
“We welcome the ACT Government’s acknowledgement of the crucial role specialist homelessness services play for some of our city’s most vulnerable citizens,” Ms Crimmins said.
“Specialist homelessness services provide tailored solutions to each person’s unique situation, to empower them to find a journey to housing stability.
“While the ramifications of the COVID-19 crisis are continuing to play out, we expect the demand for these services to continue to outweigh capacity for quite a while yet.
“YWCA Canberra is pleased to have the additional support and stability offered by the funding package to continue to support the community with housing and homelessness services,” she said.
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