23 March 2015 Media release Homelessness and family violence CEOs hold crisis meeting as funding uncertainty threatens the jobs of over 200 frontline workers The CEOs of over 30 homelessness and family violence organisations will hold a crisis meeting in Melbourne to discuss looming job cuts that may see more than 200 workers made redundant due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding $115 million of Federal funding. The National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness expires on 30 June, and provides $23 million of funding to Victorian homelessness agencies. “Today marks 100 days until this funding dries up, and we’re yet to hear a whisper from the Federal Government about their plans. Waiting until the May budget for news is too late. Services need to give three months’ notice to staff on contracts, so in the coming week services will be forced to make some very difficult decisions,” said Ms Jenny Smith, CEO, Council to Homeless Persons, the peak body for homelessness in Victoria. “We’re looking down the barrel of over 200 jobs being lost in Victoria. These are the frontline workers that tackle youth homelessness, help women and children fleeing family violence stay safe and help people sleeping rough get a roof over their heads.” As well as the impact on the homelessness workforce, CEOs will discuss how to support a rising number of people in the face of funding uncertainty. In 2013-14, the number of people seeking assistance from homelessness services jumped from 92,000 to 99,000. “More clients are knocking on the door of homelessness services than ever before as the impact of rising unemployment, family violence and the housing crisis take hold. And yet services are fighting the battle with one hand tied behind their back because they can’t plan beyond 30 June,” said Ms Smith. Attending the crisis talks will be CEOs of services that support young people experiencing homelessness, people sleeping rough and women and children escaping family violence. With family violence the number one cause of homelessness, CHP has pointed out the importance of funding certainty. “It is a total paradox for the Federal Government to be placing such an emphasis on tackling family violence, whilst at the same time leaving the very services that support them hanging,” said Ms Smith. Media enquiries Lanie Harris, [email protected] or 0418 552 377 Interviews available with clients, workers facing redundancy & CEOs Full list of attendees at the crisis meeting 1 2 3 4 5 CEO name (or rep) Jenny Smith Heather Holst Tony Keenan Fiona McCormack John Blewonski Service CHP Homeground Hanover DV Vic VincentCare 1 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Paul Turton Jocelyn Bignold Alan Wilson Julie Kun Jason Davies-Kildea Jane Barnes Janine Mahoney Cathy Humphrey Jo Swift Donna Bennet Theresa Swansborough Sandie De Wolf Rob Sago Janet Goodwin Libby Jewson Melbourne City Mission McCauley Women’s Services Quantum Support Services (Morwell) WIRE Women’s Services Salvation Army Salvation Army Safe Futures Sacred Heart Mission Kids Under Cover Hope Street Youth & Family Services RDNS Berry Street Merri Community Services South Port Community Housing Group Inc. WRISC 21 Carol Muir UnitingCare Werribee Support & Housing 22 Fiona Nicholls Anchor 23 25 26 27 28 Wesley Mission Ladder Kildonan Uniting Care Anglicare Mind Australia Loddon Mallee Housing Services trading as Haven; Home, Safe Wombat Housing Women's Health West Kelly Stanton Mark Bolton Stella Avramopoulos Paul McDonald Margaret Grigg Niall Hensey 29 30 Steve Maher 31 Robyn Gregory 2