The State Government’s recently announced $550 million housing funding plan over the next 10 years is a great down payment.
AnglicareSA CEO Peter Sandeman said he agrees with the Marshall Government that the housing system is broken, but said it will take much more than this package to solve the state’s ongoing crisis.
“It will take a major joint investment by federal and state governments,” Mr Sandeman said.
“The size of this funding package shows that the State Government can’t do it on its own.
“Much more focus and funding is still needed on top of that which has already been promised to both prevent homelessness, and invest in social and affordable housing and support services via a Housing First approach.”
AnglicareSA is encouraged by the government’s prevention focus and its learnings from the Adelaide Zero Project.
It welcomes efforts to partner with housing providers and industry agencies, but calls for more collaboration.
“It’s pleasing to see a package that addresses issues across the housing continuum and we welcome the opportunity to work with government every step of the way,” Mr Sandeman said.
“This an encouraging start but we want a fully funded system built in collaboration with community housing and homelessness service providers that ensures the most vulnerable in our community don’t slip through the cracks. For example, young people and older people – particularly older women – still won’t be able to access quality social housing.”