Cuts to homeless services likely

Wednesday, March 9, 2005 - 11:00

MELBOURNE — On February 21, the Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) stated that the federal government is likely to cut funding by 10% to Supported Accommodation Assistance Programs (SAAP).

Both federal and state governments are currently negotiating an agreement whereby official federal funding matches that of existing state funding. The dispute pertains to an additional $14.5 million from the Victorian government that is not recognised by the federal government.

In 2002-03, SAAP agencies in Victoria were unable to provide support to 17,000 Victorians. According to CHP, thousands of homeless Victorians may face further cuts to existing services and accommodation, which are "already overstretched, [and] responding to [a] high demand, due to a shortage of low cost housing".

Angela Vecchio

From Green Left Weekly, March 9, 2005.

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From GLW issue 618