Michael Sukkar MP

Ministerial Statement: Homelessness Week

‘It’s time to end homelessness’ is the theme for this year’s Homelessness Week, which is always an important occasion to acknowledge Australia’s homeless, raise awareness of the impact of homelessness, of course, and advocate for the solutions to reduce it. It is a constant battle in Australia. Although Homelessness Week is an annual event, we can’t lose sight of this cause and take for granted the fact that those experiencing homelessness in Australia are more often than not experiencing it for longer than the one week of Homelessness Week we recognise each year.

It’s always a pressing issue that impacts the very heart of every local community around Australia. In particular, during Homelessness Week, we acknowledge and are reminded of the 122,000 individuals who experience homelessness on any given night, those without a stable roof over their heads and a place to call home. In 2021, nearly a quarter of all people experiencing homelessness were tragically aged between 12 and 24. In 2021, again, nearly 20,000 people were aged over 55 and were experiencing homelessness at the time of the most recent census. As the minister outlined, we must remember that these figures can be desensitising, but behind each of them are real people with real potential, dreams and aspirations of their own.

These figures always serve as a call to action, a call to recognise the importance of reducing homelessness and the imperative for government to continue to adapt and evolve as the problem adapts and evolves. The primary source of government funded assistance for those facing homelessness or those teetering on the edge and are at risk of becoming homeless is through our specialist homelessness services. I want to praise the important work of the homelessness services across our country that go further than just those providing shelter but also work to provide lifelines and short-term and emergency accommodation, healthcare services, critical mental health support, child protection services, drug and alcohol counselling, psychological assistance, legal services and so much more.

In addition to the specialised intervention provided by these incredible organisations, they provide general support and aid to those in need, such as valuable guidance and information, clothing, furniture, and essential life training skills, including cooking and other forms of support. Even if it’s just a conversation with a lonely person or a friendly smile, the services provide and ensure that these people are seen, feel safe and supported and, importantly, are given stability, dignity and, ultimately, the chance for a better life. The holistic approach of these homelessness services and other supports not only addresses the immediate needs but also empowers individuals with the tools and resources we hope will allow them to regain stability and independence in society.

These organisations really step up in times of crisis, and we all have them in our respective electorates. They extend the support that brings light into dark moments. I recently saw this firsthand in my electorate when I spent some time helping out an organisation called Winter Shelter. It is a wonderful initiative. Winter Shelter is a Maroondah churches and community response to local homelessness. During winter, they rotate between churches and provide a bed, a meal and a whole lot more to those sleeping rough in our local area. They have one of many vital care services with the mission to provide shelter and food and to honour those in need.

Homelessness Australia notes that it’s important for Australians to understand that homelessness is not ruthlessness, with only six per cent of people we would consider homeless sleeping rough. The majority of homelessness is, in fact, invisible, with people experiencing homelessness in crisis accommodation, rooming houses, other forms of insecure housing, overcrowded dwellings or, an increasing phenomenon, couch surfing. We need to remember that homelessness can’t be divorced from the broader economic issues people are facing and the complex and multifaceted nature of the mental health and addiction issues associated with many cases, which is why the additional services I outlined earlier are so important.

Approximately 175,000 households are on waiting lists for access to social housing across the country. To use New South Wales as an example, from 22 June the waiting list comprised 57,000 individuals—51,000 on the general waiting list and 6,500 on the priority list. To secure a place on the priority list, an individual typically needs to demonstrate a desperate or utmost need. According to the New South Wales government, individuals on the general waiting list can anticipate a waiting period of 10 years or more. Imagine having to wait 10 years for a safe place to call home!

The minister rightly noted that, broadly speaking, over the 10 years to the 2021 census, homelessness statistics—grave though they are—had not increased. I think it’s quite remarkable, given Australia’s experience during COVID, that the former coalition government and, to their credit, state and territory governments around Australia were able to rise to the occasion. I was housing minister at the time, and we were very fearful of the consequences of that economic shock on people who were homeless or imminently facing homelessness. Whether it was eviction moratoriums or the significant support provided through JobKeeper, JobSeeker and myriad other supports—and, to their credits, state governments, both Labor and Liberal, provided additional support for those people—we were able to ensure that the problem didn’t get worse, that it wasn’t exacerbated during an extraordinarily difficult time.

The former coalition government established the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation, soon to be renamed Housing Australia. We give credit to the government for taking that on and adopting the model that we created. A lot of work went into creating that body—coming up with the idea and putting it into practice. NHFIC was able to ensure that, for the first time ever, the Commonwealth government partnered closely and directly with community housing providers—organisations on the front line who, I think, stretch every dollar further than almost any other organisation. In that time, we were able to support 15,000 social and affordable homes. Our $1 billion National Housing Infrastructure Facility, which unlocked nearly 7,000 additional social and affordable dwellings—again, credit to the government for taking it on and doing good work to get that money out the door—was the first instance of the Commonwealth government directly investing in that way. We also continued the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement, where we committed $1.6 billion annually. We worked very hard to also hold states more accountable, and I would encourage the government, in their negotiations, to try that again. It’s always a difficult challenge, but it’s important that we see results for that money. Importantly, we guaranteed the homelessness funding within that agreement, and I’d expect that the government would take that forward and ensure that the homelessness portion is not only guaranteed but also indexed.

Our focus on homelessness, through the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement, had a target of specific demographics with unique housing needs, including older Australians seeking stable homes; women and children affected by family and domestic violence; youths; Indigenous Australians; the long-term homeless; and individuals transitioning from institutions to homelessness. We worked hard to provide stability to the homelessness sector, as I said, through our longer-term funding. I am hopeful that the current government will do their best to continue those objectives, and I have no reason to believe that they won’t.

In Homelessness Week, it’s an important time, as I said at the outset, to reflect on some of the individuals that have so much potential. They are not just numbers in an ABS report every five years; they are people who have enormous potential. The more we can do from this place to support those people, the better. I think that will ensure that Australians not only can feel proud of the support that they provide their fellow citizens but also can live in a more cohesive and harmonious society.

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