HOMELESSNESS Week (August 4-10) reminds us that a stable home is the foundation of a good life and impacts our health and wellbeing and ability to get ahead.
Up to 3.2 million people in Australia are at risk of homelessness, often just one life shock – like a rent increase, job loss or eviction – away from losing their home.
It is possible to end homelessness in Australia, but we need governments stepping up and a whole-of-community effort that includes services like Mission Australia.
We know secure housing and timely support is the key element.
The impact is life changing: 98 per cent of people who accessed our tenancy support services remained living in their homes and avoided homelessness.
If we don’t intervene early, vulnerable people face the stress and trauma of homelessness and the challenge of rebuilding their lives from scratch.
We want more people to get help sooner to remain housed, so we call on the Albanese Government to set up a $500 million Homelessness Prevention Transformation Fund, increase Commonwealth
Rent Assistance by 60 per cent, and increase social and affordable housing to be one in every 10 new homes by 2040. Everyone in Australia should have a safe, secure home and the best chance at a good life.
Aileen Lacey, Mission Australia Regional Leader Victoria
