- Number of homeless 'may increase'
- The Herald Sun
- 22/12/2008 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: The Rooster ( 264 articles in 2008 )
HOMELESSNESS could increase over the next 12 years despite the Federal Government pledging to halve the number of people living rough by 2020, Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek says.
The Government launched The Road Home white paper yesterday, with a pledge of $1.2 billion over four years to build new housing and increase prevention services.
Labor wants to halve the number of homeless in Australia and accommodate all those sleeping rough by 2020.
But Ms Plibersek has admitted the global financial crisis means the number of homeless could actually rise.
"It is an ambitious target and it is possible homelessness will increase slightly for a number of reasons," she said on ABC television.
"We are facing tough economic times."
Ms Plibersek said the Government was also investing in research to determine "much more clearly" who is homeless.
"I think it's very possible that we've been under-counting the number of homeless Australians."
Every night in Australia, 105,000 people are homeless.
It's estimated 16,000 of those sleep on the streets.
The housing minister says that's unacceptable.
"Although the target is ambitious I think it's a fair target," she said.
"It's one that represents the sort of civilised and decent society we want to live in."
The Government launched The Road Home white paper yesterday, with a pledge of $1.2 billion over four years to build new housing and increase prevention services.
Labor wants to halve the number of homeless in Australia and accommodate all those sleeping rough by 2020.
But Ms Plibersek has admitted the global financial crisis means the number of homeless could actually rise.
"It is an ambitious target and it is possible homelessness will increase slightly for a number of reasons," she said on ABC television.
"We are facing tough economic times."
Ms Plibersek said the Government was also investing in research to determine "much more clearly" who is homeless.
"I think it's very possible that we've been under-counting the number of homeless Australians."
Every night in Australia, 105,000 people are homeless.
It's estimated 16,000 of those sleep on the streets.
The housing minister says that's unacceptable.
"Although the target is ambitious I think it's a fair target," she said.
"It's one that represents the sort of civilised and decent society we want to live in."
Source: https://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24835018-5005961,00.html
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