VCOSS welcomes the $46 million in new homelessness initiatives funded by the Victorian Government in the 2009-10 State Budget, including:
The State Budget also reports on the substantial commitments to housing and homelessness made by the Federal Government as part of the Nation Building program. The new recurrent federal resources include:
2009-10 |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
Total |
|
Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan – New construction Stage 1 |
73.5 |
73.5 |
|||
Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan – New construction Stage 2 |
391.0 |
210.4 |
37.6 |
639.0 |
|
Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan – Repairs and maintenance |
49.6 |
49.6 |
|||
Social Housing National Partnership |
40.7 |
40.7 |
|||
A Place to Call Home |
4.9 |
4.9 |
10.1 |
19.9 |
|
Indigenous Housing National Partnership |
4.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
12.0 |
Total |
469.0 |
308.1 |
45.0 |
12.6 |
834.7 |
The new federal capital includes:
2009-10 |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
Total |
|
Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan – New construction Stage 1 |
83.1 |
83.1 |
|||
Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan – New construction Stage 2 |
412.3 |
221.9 |
39.7 |
673.9 |
|
Social Housing National Partnership |
8.9 |
8.9 |
|||
Total |
504.3 |
221.9 |
39.7 |
765.9 |
With the inclusion of these new federal initiatives, 2009-10 is a big spending year for housing, with the opportunity to develop substantial numbers of new public and community housing units.
Within the context of the urgency required by federal government to begin building projects, VCOSS urges Government to use resources to encourage innovation in service delivery and to strengthen successful service models. Resources are particularly needed to better support people with mental health issues, and to this end the $15.6 million is a positive step to building sustainable pathways for people exiting mental health services.
Resources are also needed to better support singles’ housing, as the development of housing appropriate and affordable to singles is not financially viable within the funding frameworks for housing associations.
Also welcome is the commitment to develop a new Victorian Homelessness State Plan.
VCOSS was disappointed resources were not included in the budget to better support tenants struggling in private rental and to support shared equity.
In the 2009-10 Budget the State Government has committed $141 million over five years for initiatives in Skills and Workforce Participation, administered through the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development (DIIRD).