Charlotte Varcoe
THE increase in support for people who experience homelessness detailed in the federal budget has been welcomed by ac.care chief executive officer Shane Maddock.
Mr Maddock welcomed a range of initiatives announced in Tuesday’s budget including more social housing, the increase in rent assistance and the Leaving Violence Program.
“We also need to acknowledge the expense of funding for more social housing and we are prioritising the immediate needs that we feel in our community centres across the regions everyday,” Mr Maddock said.
“Without focusing on the increase of supply for social and affordable housing we are limited with the options we can provide people to allow them to stay safe at night.”
He said ac.care also welcomed the additional funding which covered the equal remuneration agreement allowing matched increases in pay rates.
“The rent assistance increase is certainly welcome as anything that helps to cover the increased cost of living, including rent is helpful but the amount which has been provided actually will not improve for people on low income with the ability to afford rent of the 45,000 listings around Australia,” Mr Maddock said.
“Our position is that the rate of JobSeeker and other Centrelink payments needs to increase which will allow people to live above the poverty line.
“Until that happens, we have two-million people, including 840,000 children, who are stuck in poverty during winter.”
He said the number of social houses scheduled to be built across the country from the budget was a “drop in the ocean” for the demand of housing out there.
“We know that people with reasonably high incomes are struggling to enter the housing and rental market,” Mr Maddock said.
“People on low incomes are just not able to enter the market and social housing is the option for them where the rent is capped.”
He said the $300 subsidy in energy bills was a positive for many families, meaning they would not have to choose between keeping food on the table or the heater on.
“We are aware it is only for 12 months and that our bills continue to increase way beyond the consumer price index or any increase in income and that is just delaying it down the track,” Mr Maddock siad.
“The Leaving Violence Program is welcome, we also appreciate increased support for women and children leaving gendered violent situations as it is vital.
“We are saying women in this situation because they are the ones who are unable to secure an alternative safe place to live and end up remaining in a violent household or situation.”
He said although the program was a positive step forward, prevention still remained the key need for those finding themselves in that position.
Mr Maddock said the increase for JobSeekers working up to 14 hours per week was also welcome yet he would continue to look to increase the rate across the board for all of those on JobSeeker to further help those in poverty.
“More broadly we are happy to see that paid parental leave superannuation is funded as that will go someway to increasing superannuation particularly for women to build the balance sheet for retirement,” he said.
“Some additional funding for the early years is great and we know the more support people get during the children’s early years the more likely they are to succeed in school.”
