The Australian federal government has announced an extension of the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) for two more years until 2017. This was welcomed by organisations helping the homeless as vital services were at risk of being cut off without further funding. The additional funding will prioritize services for women and children experiencing domestic violence and homeless youth. The ACT region will receive $1.5 million annually from the federal government to match with $1.5 million from the local government, totaling $3 million per year for homelessness services on top of existing annual funding of $17.5 million. An implementation plan is still to be negotiated but current services are expected to continue receiving support.

1. news
Welcome extension to homelessness funding
O
rganisations that
tackle homelessness
have expressed relief
at the Federal Government’s
announcement to extend the
National Partnership Agreement on
Homelessness (NPAH) for two years
to 2017.
According to Susan Helyar,
Director of ACT Council of Social
Service Inc, “without these funds,
vital community services would
have ceased”.
Under the extended agreement,
the Commonwealth’s funding
priorities will be frontline services
focusing on women and children
experiencing domestic and family
violence, and homeless youth.
ACT Minister for Housing
and Minister Assisting the Chief
Minister on Social Inclusion and
Equality, Yvette Berry, welcomed
the announcement as the delayed
timing “had created significant
concern and uncertainty to the ACT
Government and service providers
in the sector across Australia”.
“The current agreement is set
to expire on 30 June 2015 and we
had been facing the imminent
prospect of cuts to vital services,”
Ms Berry said.
The ACT will receive about
$1.5 million each year from the
Commonwealth, which the ACT
Government is committed to
match, for a total of approximately
$3 million per annum. This is in
addition to the $17.5 million per
annum provided for homelessness
services in the ACT.
“The ACT Government has
agreed to the extended NPAH in
principle but specific program
funding will be set out in an
ACT Implementation Plan which
will be negotiated with the
Commonwealth,” Ms Berry said.
“We expect the homelessness
services and organisations that
currently receive funding in
the ACT will continue, pending
agreement by the Commonwealth.”
Ms Berry added that the “ACT
Government has already initiated
an evaluation of homelessness
reforms that have taken place over
the past five years of the NPAH and
will continue to work with the ACT
homelessness sector to address
priority issues, including domestic
violence responses and youth
homelessness interventions”.
However, Ms Helyar said while
ACTCOSS “supports prioritising
supporting young people and
people leaving domestic violence
to get housing and the support
they need to address the causes
of homelessness, we can’t
ignore other groups affected by
homelessness, including those
sleeping rough, couch surfing or
living in overcrowded dwellings”.
“Over the past few months, the
number of people sleeping rough
in our city has become even more
visible, and I have been approached
by many who don’t work in social
services who are deeply troubled
by this,” Ms Helyar said.
“ACTCOSS has worked with
ACT Shelter to ensure the ACT and
Federal governments understand
that reducing homelessness is
the top priority for investment.
Our budget submission for the
2015-2016 Budget outlined several
recommended priorities for
investment, including expanding
services, improving knowledge
and skills and building more
affordable housing.”
- Allison Redman
Young model racing
to raise funds
Young Canberra model Chloe Granger is a national
finalist in this year’s Miss Teen Galaxy Pageant and
in the lead up to the big event, took to the track to
raise over $4,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
With the assistance of her father and brother,
the 18 year old undertook a 12-hour Speedathon at
the Power Kart Raceway in Griffith from 9pm until
9am over Friday 20 and Saturday 21 March.
The trio completed roughly 1,000 laps and
spectators were able to join in the race for a
$5 donation.
Chloe says she was happy with the Speedathon’s
success and is now looking forward to representing
the ACT in the Miss Teen Galaxy Pageant national
final at the Gold Coast today, Thursday 26 March.
“I think this pageant will be more competitive
compared to some of the others I’ve done, but I
think it will be way more fun,” she says.
“It feels really good to raise money for charity
too and as the pageant has two designated
charities, I decided to go with the Make-A-Wish
Foundation because it’s closer to my heart.”
People can still pledge support and make
donations at give.everydayhero.com/au/chloe-29
- Madeline Power
The Speedathon family trio Lachlan, Will and Chloe Granger collectively
raised over $4,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
PhotoGarySchafer
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