Swags for the Homeless take one giant leap to help Australians sleeping rough

A group of volunteers from ‘Swags for the Homeless' begin their long walk from Canberra to Sydney today to raise awareness and money for helping the homeless.

Australian Greens housing spokesperson, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, praised the group and urged the Government and Opposition to heed their calls.

"Swags for the Homeless provide emergency swags to help the many Australians sleeping rough. A swag can mean making it through a winter night. This is something all parties should unite to support.

"In the first three months of 2012 more than 100,000 Australians accessed specialist homelessness services. Many thousands are sleeping rough every night. We need to see more affordable housing as a long-term solution, and we need to give whatever help we can to the homeless right now - today.

"Swags for the Homeless is trying to raise $2.1 million to provide 21,300 ‘backpack beds'. That would make a big difference.  By creating a National Emergency Relief Homeless Program with its own dedicated funding - the Government could help ‘Swags' help the homeless without taking one cent away from long-term affordable housing projects.

"Labor has committed in principle to halving homelessness by 2020. We need Mr Abbott to match that commitment, and for both major parties to turn good intentions into action."