Background
Reducing homelessness is a priority for the Australian Government.
In January 2008 the Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, and the Minister for Housing, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, announced the development of a comprehensive, long term plan to tackle homelessness.
The Prime Minister appointed a steering group to oversee this process:
- Tony Nicholson, Executive Director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence (Chair)
- Anna Buduls, company director and philanthropist
- Heather Nancarrow, Director of the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, Central Queensland University (CQU), Mackay
In May 2008 the Government released a Green Paper on homelessness, Which Way Home? A New Approach to Homelessness, which sought to promote public discussion, highlight the challenges faced by people who are homeless and suggest ways to reduce homelessness in the long term.
Public consultations were held in all states during May and June 2008.
More than 1,200 people attended 13 consultations and almost 600 written submissions were received. More than 300 people experiencing homelessness gave their views.
There was strong agreement at consultations and in submissions that Australia’s response to homelessness needed to be improved.
Submissions urged the Government to develop a new, whole-of-government approach that would:
- demonstrate national leadership
- focus strongly on prevention and early intervention
- provide support for homeless Australians that leads to increased economic and social participation
- encourage closer collaboration between services used by people vulnerable to homelessness
- increase access to safe, affordable housing linked to appropriate support services
- recognise the complexity of homelessness and address the needs of different groups within the homeless population, including families with children, young people, Indigenous people, older adults, and women and children leaving domestic or family violence.
This White Paper, The Road Home, sets out a national approach to reducing homelessness.