Following a referral from the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, and the Assistant Minister for Community Housing, Homelessness and Community Services, the Hon Luke Howarth MP, the Committee resolved on 11 February 2020 to conduct an inquiry into homelessness in Australia.
Victoria has the highest and fastest rising rates of Aboriginal people contacting homelessness services in Australia. Almost half of those presenting to such services are already homeless. Our submission is based on our unique position as an ACCO providing a suite of child and family welfare services across Victoria. It highlights some of the pressures which lead to the over-representation of Aboriginal children, young people and families in rates of homelessness in Victoria and the key role safe and secure housing has on successful outcomes in education, health, justice, child protection, family violence and employment.
Read VACCA's submission for the Inquiry into Homelessness in Australia to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs.