Homelessness Australia has welcomed the announcement of Senator Andrew Bragg as the shadow minister for the Coalition's housing and homelessness portfolio.
Australia is in the grips of a housing and homelessness emergency, with the rental crisis increasingly pushing working families to the edge of homelessness. Economists estimate the rental crisis means roughly three million Australians are at risk of homelessness.
"We look forward to working with the government and Senator Bragg to put an end to the rental crisis, and make the investments in homelessness that are needed so that no one is turned away when they need help," Homelessness Australia CEO Kate Colvin said.
"Australia's rental market is out of control, and failing to deliver rentals for ordinary families to attain the stability of a home.
"With so many families pushed to the edge and unable to fully engage in work and education, the case for Government intervention to address the market failure is unassailable.
"The rental crisis is also creating a surge in homelessness, with families forced into overstretched homelessness services. Each year, 280,000 people are turning to services for support. A further 120,000 Australians are being turned away from homelessness services, or can't get through the door because services have had to go on 'bypass'.
"People facing homelessness need urgent resources to prevent them losing their home. Too many people are falling through the cracks, and the longer they can't receive help, the harder it is to escape homelessness.
"We know what needs to be done. Economists and housing and infrastructure experts agree we need more social housing in Australia. But until new social housing is available homelessness services need to be equipped to help those struggling," Kate Colvin said.
"We cannot accept the current scale of homelessness. Constructive relationships among homelessness services and policy makers can change the face of this emergency.
"With more social housing to fix the rental crisis, and help for when people need it, all Australians will have the stability of a home they need to thrive and prosper," Kate Colvin said.
