Greens comment on funding of National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness

Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens housing spokesperson, said:

"This announcement provides some reprieve to the funding uncertainty that has been hanging over the heads of homelessness organisations, but it doesn't negate the harm that has been caused by Tony Abbott.

"The agreement was set up with four-year funding periods and today's announcement only provides funding for two years. Homelessness organisations do not have the funding certainty they were originally provided with under this agreement. This delay has placed at risk the 3400 highly specialised jobs and 180 initiatives providing services to 80,000 clients every year.

"As well as reducing funding certainty for NPAH, the Abbott Government has abolished the National Rental Affordability Scheme and cut funding from housing and homelessness peak bodies.

"This announcement does not restore the $44 million of capital funding for new homeless shelters cut by Tony Abbott," said Senator Ludlam.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, said:

"While this is a welcome first step in following the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry into domestic violence, the Abbott Government's other funding cuts must be reversed.

"The short-term accommodation and support that homelessness organisations provide with NPAH funding is vital.

"However, we also need affordable long-term accommodation so that women can stay away from violence for good.

"The Abbott Government's abolition of the National Rental Affordability Scheme is severely undermining access to this long-term affordable accommodation.

"We know that community legal centres are having to let lawyers go, due to funding cuts and uncertainty, despite the tragically high demand for legal advice from women trying to escape domestic violence.

"Affordable long-term accommodation and access to legal advice are essential in ending violence against women," Senator Waters said.