The Minns Labor Government has put unions ahead of the state’s most vulnerable, failing to provide adequate funding to support homeless services.
Shadow Minister for ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾lessness Natasha Maclaren-Jones said Specialist ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾lessness Services were key to tackling homelessness in NSW and must be adequately funded.
“The NSW Labor Budget has failed our most vulnerable people leaving frontline homelessness services without adequate funding to deal with increasing demand for services,” Natasha Maclaren-Jones said. “Specialist ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾lessness Services (SHS) are the primary response to homelessness and under the Liberal and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Government investment in homelessness services more than doubled.”
³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾lessness services have been left with a budget shortfall, they needed $50 million over two years to continue to operate and meet the increased cost of delivering services but instead Labor have given them only $5.9 million.
This budget is a stark reminder that under a Labor Government our most vulnerable will be forgotten.
“The Minns Government has failed to properly fund programs and initiatives to help people tackle the issues that have put them at risk of homelessness and provide a pathway out.” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
The Together ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ program established by the Liberal and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ supports people sleeping rough into stable accommodation with wrap around supports.
Mrs Maclaren-Jones said everyone deserves a safe and stable place to call home and the Together ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ program has supported over 1,000 people since it began in 2020.
“Last year, the Liberal and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Government invested an additional $55 million for the Together ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ program, the Minns Government has provided only $11.3 million, leaving hundreds of vulnerable people without basic support and the chance to have a stable home. “Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
Under the Liberal and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s 2022-23 Budget we invested $1.2 billion towards homelessness and social housing programs, products and initiatives including $55 million to build on the success of the $177 million Together ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ program to provide housing and support services to rough sleepers.
