A new $300 million commitment to housing will transform lives, giving young people and women escaping violence the safety and stability they need to rebuild and, from there, to re-engage with education and jobs.
The Home Time youth housing coalition and Homelessness Australia have strongly endorsed the Government’s decision to extend the Housing Australia Future Fund crisis and transitional program as grant funding to support the delivery of approximately 500 additional homes.
For many young people, homelessness starts with violence at home, not a choice or a failure of their own making.
“When we give a young person a safe place to live, we aren’t just putting a roof over their head. We are giving them the foundation to stay in school, recover from trauma, and build a life,” Home Time spokesperson, Shorna Moore, said. “For the young people currently in shelters or sleeping in parks, this announcement offers real hope.”
Homelessness Australia CEO Kate Colvin said the announcement recognised that young people and women and children fleeing violence should never have to choose between homelessness and staying in a violent home.
“This is the sort of investment that saves lives. So many women and young people face the impossible choice of being homeless or staying in a violent home. Each one of these safe homes will give people a chance to escape homelessness and violence and rebuild their lives.”