Federal Government under pressure from Liberal states for homelessness funding plan

Updated

The Federal Government is under pressure from some state Liberal governments to announce how it intends to fund homelessness services after this financial year.

The current National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) expires at the end of June, and service providers say the uncertainty over what will replace it is already causing some staff to leave.

West Australian Minister for Child Protection and Family Services Helen Morton has told AM she has been given no indication of what, if anything, will replace the NPAH.

"We are working like mad to get the Commonwealth to, at the very least, indicate that the service will continue," she said.

"I just don't believe that any government isn't going to provide ongoing funding for such a successful program, that's had such a positive impact on so many people's lives, but I've certainly not had any indication as to the extent of that ongoing funding."

Ms Morton says in the first four years of the NPAH, Western Australia exceeded its targets, with 91 per cent of clients still in housing 12 months after receiving help.

The previous federal government put in place a one-year, transitional agreement last year, bringing the total investment in NPAH to more than $1 billion since 2009.

Homelessness funding certainty needed before budget

Victorian Minister for Housing Wendy Lovell is highly critical of the previous government for only signing a one-year deal.

"Having uncertainty around the federal government funding does make it harder for me to get the state funding component through in the state budget, but we're working towards continuing funding," she said.

Ms Lovell says she has had informal discussions with the Federal Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews, about the future of NPAH beyond June 30.

"He is very aware that we need to provide certainty to our service providers and is keen to give us an answer sooner rather than later," she said.

Both the Victorian and West Australian governments say the Commonwealth cannot wait until the federal budget in May to announce any future funding deal.

"I hope we have an answer long before that," Ms Lovell said.

"Certainly if we don't get the federal funding through, we will have to review what funding arrangements that there are in place from July 1."

Ms Morton says while she understands the funding is subject to a budget process and a budget timeframe, certainty around the issue is required sooner.

"Those things aren't going to happen until May. This is only six weeks out of the end of June, and people are needing some understanding right now," she said.

Mr Andrews was not available for interview.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to amend references to the amount of funding the NPAH has provided since 2009.

Topics: homelessness, community-and-society, government-and-politics, federal-government, federal---state-issues, australia

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