Funds to help those in need

MARCH 23, 2015: TODAY the Coalition Government has announced $230 million to extend the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) for two years to 2017.Priority will be given to frontline services focusing on women and children experiencing domestic and family violence, and homeless youth under 18.According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), in 2013/14 about 85,000 adults and children sought help from specialist homelessness service agencies for domestic and family violence, an increase of 9% from 2012/13.The Abbott Government has a strong track record of action on addressing domestic violence. This issue requires coordinated responses across portfolios and from all levels of government. Today's announcement complements the government's $100 million commitment as part of the Second Action Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.This announcement was brought forward ahead of the May Budget to give providers of homelessness services across Australia more certainty, enabling them to get on with their work of helping some of our most vulnerable people.Labor turned off the funding tap for homelessness in their last budget failing to make any provision for Commonwealth funding for NPAH after 30 June 2014.The Coalition acted when coming to Government to restore funding for the homelessness partnership for the current year and will now extend this commitment for a further two years while a comprehensive review is undertaken on federal- state responsibilities.Once funding was matched by the states and territories, the 2015-17 NPAH would allow for continuity of homelessness services across Australia.Minister for Social Services Scott Morrison will work with state and territory colleagues through the NPAH to help ensure that all Australians can access real, practical assistance and to prevent even more people falling into homelessness.