Tuesday 5 May 2015 Media release Funding for innovation sets the stage for future investment in ending homelessness The Peak body for homelessness services in Victoria has welcomed the continued investment in seven homelessness Innovation Action Projects in today’s State Budget. “Today’s Budget provides a $40 million lifeline to seven services that would otherwise have had to shut their doors on 30 June” said Jenny Smith, CEO of the Council to Homeless Persons. “These projects are trialing new approaches to preventing and ending homelessness, and we hope to see future Budgets expand on these trials and invest in a system to end homelessness in Victoria.” CHP also welcomes the additional funding to purchase crisis accommodation for women and children escaping family violence, though CHP says the crisis accommodation only goes part way towards untangling the relationship between family violence and homelessness “We need to be able to respond to the immediate crisis needs of people escaping family violence, but we also need the housing assistance that can help women and children find a home and rebuild their lives. CHP continues to call for funding for a rapid rehousing program to make this happen.” said “We’re also pleased to see investment to improve the quality of rooming house accommodation. Rooming houses provide shelter to some of our most vulnerable Victorians, and many are in a state of disrepair requiring urgent attention. However to solve our housing crisis we need to see a longterm vision and funding for social housing in Victoria”. The funding of the Equal Remuneration Order, also contained in the Budget, means that services will be able to retain a workforce that has the skills to work with extremely disadvantaged households to gain and sustain a home. “Year on year homelessness services in Victoria are seeing demand increasing by six to seven per cent. We can’t continue to stand still while homelessness is growing. The next Budget must tackle our housing affordability and homelessness crisis,” said Ms Smith. Media enquiries: Lanie Harris, Council to Homeless Persons, 0418 552 377 1