Housing and Homelessness
The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs assists low income households to access affordable and appropriate housing, and to support people to break the cycle of homelessness. The Department is responsible for the coordination of housing policy and programs, and working with the States & Territories to support the delivery of housing programs aimed at increasing housing affordability and addressing homelessness.
What's new
Housing
- National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) - Call for Applications Round Two, opened 17 December 2008. The National Rental Affordability Scheme is an Australian Government initiative to stimulate the supply of up to 50,000 new affordable rental dwellings.
- First Home Saver Accounts website— these accounts offer a simple, tax effective way for Australians to save for their first home through a combination of government contributions and low taxes.
- The Housing Affordability Fund will invest up to $512 million over five years to 2013, to lower the cost of building new homes. The Expression of Interest process for the Housing Affordability Fund is open until 5pm Wednesday 15 October 2008. Applicants may choose to apply for funding over multiple financial years, with the project commencing and initial funding being paid in the 2008-09 financial year.
Homelessness
- On 29 November, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced an additional $800 million in funding to tackle homelessness in Australia. More information can be found on the COAG website.
- The National Homelessness Information Clearinghouse
The National Homelessness Information Clearinghouse is a source of useful information about homelessness for researchers, academics, Government employees and people working in the homelessness sector.
The site has many great features such as:
- announcements of latest news articles and upcoming events related to homelessness
- information about homelessness initiatives at all levels of government
- latest research reports, and
- opportunities to create forums and communities of practice.
- An important aspect of the clearinghouse is the ability to create and develop communities of practice - private or public forums that facilitate discussions, research and interaction among those in the homelessness sector. This smart use of technology will overcome logistical barriers such as distance to allow information to be shared with ease.
To make this clearinghouse effective it is important that the interactive function of the website is used. The sector is encouraged to use this interactive function and form an online community of practice. For information on setting up a community of practice, visit the clearinghouse community of practice section.
More information
Housing
- Rent Assistance - a non-taxable income supplement payment for eligible income support customers who rent in the private rental market
- Commonwealth State Housing Agreement - mechanism for the Australian Government to provide money to states and territories, for housing assistance programs for those most in need.
- Housing Assistance Act 1996 annual report - details the operation of the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement.
Homelessness
- Homelessness: A New Approach - a new approach to tackling the problem of homelessness in Australia.
- A Place to Call Home - a joint State and Territory initiative to build 600 new homes across Australia for homeless individuals and families.
- National Homelessness Strategy (NHS) - research into future responses to homelessness
- Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) - a jointly funded Australian Government and state and territory government program that assists people who are homeless.
- Household Organisational Management Expenses (HOME) Advice Program - assists families that are at risk of becoming homeless.
- Reconnect Program - aims to re-engage at risk young people with their families and education.
- Newly Arrived Youth Support Service (NAYSS) - provides services to assist newly arrived young people aged 12 to 21 years from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and their families.