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5Th June 2020 to the House of Representatives Standing

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5Th June 2020 to the House of Representatives Standing 02 4325 3540 [email protected] PO Box 1234 Gosford NSW 2250 5th June 2020 To the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, Inquiry into Homelessness in Australia Coast Shelter is a homelessness service based in Gosford Local Government Area and Wyong Local Government Area working with Youth, Women & Children and Men who are homeless or at risk of homelessness along with Women escaping Domestic and Family Violence. We welcome the opportunity to provide a response to the Inquiry into Homelessness in Australia. We seek to respond to the term of reference regarding services to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including housing assistance, social housing, and specialist homelessness services. As service providers, we directly engage with the growing homelessness crisis through assisting those at risk of and experiencing homelessness. NSW experienced the highest rate of homelessness across states and territories from 2011- 2016, with the number increasing by 37% in this period, significantly higher than the national increase of 14%.1 During a similar period, homelessness services have experienced unprecedented demand, with a 38% increase in clients from 2014 – 2016.2 This level of demand has been maintained since 2016. In 2018-19 homeless services across NSW saw over 73, 000 clients, 27% more than they are funded to support.3 We are funded to work with 876 clients but in 2018-19 we supported over 1151 clients experiencing homelessness and a further 914 women & children escaping domestic and family violence. The COVID-19 pandemic has further increased these pressures. 39 per cent of homeless service providers have already reported an increase in demand for services during March and April.4 Modelling undertaken by Equity Economics has identified that due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, homelessness in NSW is likely to increase by up to 16,000 1 Launch Housing (2018), ‘National Homelessness Monitor’, viewed on 1/06/2020, access via: https://cityfutures.be.unsw.edu.au/research/projects/australian-homelessness-monitor/ 2 AIHW (2019), ‘Specialist Homelessness Services Annual Report 2018–19’, viewed on 1/06/2020, access via: https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/ef6a725c-a863-480e-a037-d4d66cca2839/Specialist-Homelessness-Services- annual-report-2018-19.pdf.aspx?inline=true 3 ibid. 4 Equity Economics (2020), ‘Supporting Economic Recovery in NSW: Investment in Social and Affordable Housing is Critical to Supporting Jobs Today and Families into the Future’, viewed on 1/06/2020, access via: https://www.ncoss.org.au/sites/default/files/public/policy/Equity%20Economics%20- %20Supporting%20Economic%20Recovery%20in%20NSW_05092020_Final.pdf Coast Shelter is registered with the independent national regulator of charities, the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) people5. In this context, we urgently require investment in the social housing and the homelessness service system to address the increase in homelessness in NSW. We need urgent action at both a national and state level. Nationally, Australia needs: 1. A National Housing Strategy: More low-cost properties mean more choices, making it cheaper and easier to find a home. 500,000 new social and affordable rental homes are needed nationally to meet the current demand for affordable housing. 2. Immediate relief for Australians in chronic rental stress: we need to keep JobSeeker at current funding levels 3. A plan to end homelessness by 2030: With real effort we can halve homelessness in five years - and end it in 10. 4. A better deal for renters: Get rid of “no grounds” evictions and unfair rent rises so that millions of Australian renters have the security they need to create homes, build lives, and raise families. In New South Wales specifically we need: a) An additional 5,000 new social housing dwellings every year for the next 10 years just to meet current demand. b) Investment in supportive housing models such as Housing First and Foyer models to support people sleeping rough and young people. c) Enhancements to the Specialist Homelessness Services Program that addresses gaps created by the Going Home Staying Home reforms including funding for domestic and family violence services, youth services and specialist services that support Aboriginal communities, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities and the LGBTQI community. We are available to give evidence to the inquiry and can be contacted on to arrange this. Yours sincerely, Rachel Willis Coast Shelter CEO PO Box 1234 Gosford NSW 2250 .
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