The Commonwealth Government will make a contribution of $150,000 to the Mission Australia Winter Homeless Appeal.
Homelessness is a complex problem with devastating consequences and is often associated with drugs, alcohol, mental health problems, gambling and family breakdown.
Mission Australia assists around 40,000 Australians each year with crisis, medium and long term accommodation, as well as longer-term support such as skills training and employment assistance, drug and alcohol addiction counselling, financial assistance, and help with family breakdown and family violence.
Funds raised by the Appeal will help the Mission continue its valuable work to provide crisis accommodation and to establish lasting independence for the homeless in the longer term.
The Government believes that tackling homelessness at its source depends on working together in a social coalition with individuals, families, businesses and welfare organisations so that those touched by homelessness can participate fully in the community.
We acknowledge the vital assistance provided by Mission Australia, and are delighted to support the Mission in their continuing assistance for people who are homeless.
In addition to contributing to the appeal, the Commonwealth has sought to address the problem of homelessness through a number of initiatives. We have provided $3.7 million over three years for The National Homelessness Strategy, announced in May 2000 to help identify and help tackle some of the root causes of homelessness.
Other Commonwealth funding includes $5 million over three years provided for the Family Homelessness Prevention Pilots, $832 million over 2000-2005 to the Supported Accommodation Assistance Programme (SAAP) and $60 million for the Reconnect programme.
I would encourage all Australians to support the Mission Australia Winter Homeless Appeal.