With Canberra's winter well underway and the ongoing COVID pandemic increasing the risk of homelessness in our community, the ACT Greens have again called on the ACT Government to act urgently to tackle the city's ongoing housing crisis.
It comes as the Canberra Times today reports on new data showing that the ACT had a social housing shortfall of 3000 properties, and about 1600 people were homeless on any given night prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
As the centrepiece of the Greens 2020 election campaign, we recently launched a comprehensive $450 million 'Home for All' package over the next four years to end homelessness and improve housing affordability in the ACT.
In what would mark the largest ever investment in affordable housing in the ACT, the Greens' comprehensive housing package to address our housing crisis, ensure everyone has a home, and end homelessness in the ACT for good - is a first for any Australian state or territory. The plan includes:
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A $200 million investment to create 600 new affordable climate-ready rental properties for those in need through community housing
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A $200 million investment to create 400 new climate-ready public housing properties
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An immediate funding boost of 20% to Canberra's underfunded specialist homelessness services ($21.4 million over four years)
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$8.5 million to deliver MyHome in Curtin, providing long term supported housing for 20 people with enduring mental health issues
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$9 million to deliver new beds in Canberra's homelessness services and to embed specialist workers (i.e. mental health, disability, etc.) in existing homelessness services to keep more Canberrans out of homelessness for good
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$8 million to deliver another 20 homes at Common Ground in Gungahlin
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$300k to commission initial work on an Aboriginal controlled Indigenous community housing organisation.
"This is an extraordinary historical moment. We can provide a home for everyone who needs one and end homelessness in Canberra - for good," ACT Greens Housing spokesperson Rebecca Vassarotti said today.
"We can, and must, Build a Better Normal out of this crisis."
