A new program aiming to break the cycle of rough sleeping has been praised, although one Illawarra group says more needs to be done at a federal level to provide support.
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The state government has announced the new $36 million Together Home project, which they claim will deliver the largest housing response dedicated to rough sleepers in NSW history.
Together Home will be a partnership between the NSW Government, community housing providers, specialist homelessness services and health services.
The government says it will provide access to the services people need to maintain their tenancy, improve their health and well-being and move towards training and employment.
Narelle Clay is CEO of Southern Youth and Family Services, a charity organisation providing support and assistance to vulnerable, disadvantaged and homeless young people and those at risk of, disadvantage and homelessness.
"Any effort that can continue after this COVID period to keep people in housing to reduce homelessness numbers is fantastic," Ms Clay said of the announcement.
"I think the money in NSW is very welcomed.
"At the same time, we've got to make sure the housing is there.
"When the (HomeBuilder) stimulus package was announced by the Commonwealth last week, and there was no public, community or social housing or affordable housing in it, that was terribly disappointing.
"So you have to do both - you've got to provide the program to provide this extra support, but if we can't get the extra housing, then it's a bit pointless. We really need the Commonwealth to step up."
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the project would change the lives of people who have experienced rough sleeping, including people with highly complex needs, by rapidly securing them homes from the private rental market and wrapping essential support services around them.
"Throughout the COVID-19 response we've worked hard to keep rough sleepers safe," Mr Ward said.
"Now we're working to get them into homes with the support they need to rebuild their lives."
Mandy Booker, general manager of Wollongong Emergency Family Housing also welcomed the announcement.
"By providing the much needed funding to support a Housing First model, it's assisting to break the revolving door that occurs for people with complex needs into homelessness," she said.
"We now hope this funding is spread across successful programs that have been at risk due to previous funding shortfalls."
Meanwhile, Labor is calling on the government to urgently implement permanent housing solutions and exit strategies for individuals currently in temporary accommodation.
Labor says the NSW Government has placed some 2200 people in temporary hotel accommodation to ensure they stay safe and well during the COVID-19 pandemic, but is yet to provide the plan to supply enough affordable social housing to permanently support this cohort.
"There is a desperate shortage of social housing in NSW with over 51,000 applications on the wait list, and this was before COVID-19," Ryan Park, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, said.
"What we need is significant investment in social housing that helps stimulate our economy, creates jobs and apprenticeships and helps to reduce homelessness.
"With most NGO's at capacity for transitional housing and an ongoing shortage of social housing available I am greatly concerned for the future of vulnerable people."
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