The Government’s Homelessness Insights report has confirmed that homelessness is on the rise.
“The Government has confirmed what we have all seen on our streets, which is that homelessness is on the rise under its watch,” says Green Party spokesperson for Housing Tamatha Paul.
“Housing is a human right and something we can afford to provide to everyone, no matter how tough times get.
“The changes to emergency housing eligibility have created misery in our communities. This is how the Government has so rapidly reduced numbers in such a short time, by discarding human beings to fend for themselves on the streets.”
“This report makes it clear that the Government has no idea where 14 per cent of the people who leave emergency housing end up. We know that these people are extremely likely to end up on the street and without support.
“The Government was explicitly warned by officials that their changes to emergency housing risked increasing homelessness and rough sleeping, and they knowingly chose to take that risk.
“From the latest government data and the work my electorate office is doing to support people in serious housing desperation, we know that the big drivers on the ground are the denial of access to emergency housing, and a lack of public housing supply.
“A Green Government will reverse National’s restrictions to emergency housing so those who need help get it. We will build 35,000 new public homes in five years to clear the public housing waitlist and ensure everyone can live in a warm, healthy home because we don’t believe anybody should be left on the street,” says Tamatha Paul.