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Media release
From the Minister for Community Services & Housing
Wednesday, 27 March 2002
BRACKS GOVERNMENT BOOSTS SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS
The Bracks Government has committed an additional $1.5 million to improve care and support for homeless people, Community Services & Housing Minister Bronwyn Pike told Parliament today.
The funding will provide 27 equivalent full time extra workers in crisis support services across Victoria through the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP).
“This will expand the capacity to directly assist homeless individuals and families,” Ms Pike said. “The SAAP program helps the homeless and those at risk of homelessness – including women and children escaping family violence – find shelter and support.
“This funding boost is designed to deliver real and long term solutions for individuals and families who find themselves homeless.
“The workers will provide personal support, link people to crisis support and accommodation services, and help them re-establish their lives.”
Ms Pike said the Bracks Government had demonstrated its strong commitment to fighting homelessness by allocating more than $32 million over five years to expand and improve services since coming to office.
“In last year’s budget, we also committed $28 million to create an additional 300 crisis and transitional homes for people at risk of homelessness,” Ms Pike said.
“The previous Government ignored evidence regarding homelessness in our communities and did not invest in services for homeless people.
“In contrast, the Bracks Government is investing in homelessness services and working to rebuild those services to make real and lasting change.”
Twenty-five agencies will share the funding including $84,255 for Salvation Army Social Services to provide support workers in Colac, Hamilton and Portland, and $112,340 for the WAYSS agency to provide crisis response services to young people in the Cities of Casey and Cardinia.
“We are also providing more than $56,000 to Women’s Health West for a worker to provide outreach services to women and children from ethnic backgrounds escaping domestic violence,” Ms Pike said.
The Bracks Government also announced $3 million to support the implementation of the Victorian Homelessness Strategy earlier this month.
“We are committed to a comprehensive and effective whole-of-Government approach to tackling the homelessness problem in Victoria,” Ms Pike said.
*Funding list attached
SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EXPANSION
Region / Agency / Funding & Target Group / Region Total / EFTBarwon South West / Brophy Family & Youth Services (Warrnambool) / $56,170 youth / $56,170 / 1
Salvation Army Social Services (Geelong) / $84,255 Single adults / $84,255 / 1.5
$140,425 / 2.5
Eastern Metropolitan / Call for Submissions / $365,105 cross target / $365,105 / 6.5
$365,105 / 6.5
Gippsland / Kilmany Family Care Cross Target (Sale) / $28,085 cross target / $28,085 / 0.5
Lakes Entrance Housing Support / $28,085 cross target / $28,085 / 0.5
Quantum Support Service Inc (Morwell) / $28,085 cross target / $28,085 / 0.5
$84,255 / 1.5
Grampians / Centacare, Catholic Diocese of Ballarat. / $28,085 cross target / $28,085 / 0.5
Salvation Army Family Services (Horsham) / $28,085 cross target / $28,085 / 0.5
$56,170 / 1
Hume / Salvation Army Property Trust
Victoria (Seymour) / $56,170 youth & $56,170 cross target / $112,340 / 2
$112,340 / 2
Loddon Mallee / Swan Hill & District Aboriginal Cooperative / $28,085 cross target / $28,085 / 0.5
Mallee Family Care (Swan Hill) / $28,085 cross target / $28,085 / 0.5
St Lukes Anglicare (Bendigo) / $28,085 youth / $28,085 / 0.5
Maryborough District Health Service / $28,085 cross target / $28,085 / 0.5
$112,340 / 2
Northern Metropolitan / Merri Housing (City of Darebin) / $56,170 cross target / $56,170 / 1
Outreach Victoria (City of Yarra) / $56,170 families / $56,170 / 1
Berry Street (Heidelberg) / $28,085 family and
domestic violence / $28,085 / 0.5
$140,425 / 2.5
Southern Metropolitan / WAYSS Ltd (Dandenong) / $112,340 youth / $112,340 / 2
Salvation Army Crisis (St Kilda) / $56,170 families / $56,170 / 1
Salvation Army Peninsula Youth & Family Services (Frankston) / $84255 cross target / $84,255 / 1.5
Hanover Welfare Services (City of Port Phillip, City of Stonnington) / $56,170 single adults / $56,170 / 1
Kilvington House Women’s Refuge (location cannot be disclosed) / $56,170 family and
domestic violence / $56,170 / 1
$ 365,105 / 6.5
Western Metropolitan / Melbourne Citymission/Salvation Army (Western Suburbs) / $28,805 families / $28,085 / 0.5
Werribee Support & Housing Group (Werribee) / $56,170 families / $56,170 / 1
Women's Heath West (Footscray) / $56,170 family and
domestic violence / $56,170 / 1
$140,425 / 2.5
GRAND TOTAL / $ 1,516,590 / 27.0
Media contact: Tim Winkler - 9651 5799 / 0407 688 632