MEDIA RELEASE
THE HON SHAYNE NEUMANN MP, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BLAIR
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann has welcomed an Albanese Government investment of $91.7 million into youth homelessness through the Reconnect program over the next three years, including in services in Ipswich.
Mr Neumann said that under the program, Inala to Ipswich Reconnect based at Riverview in his electorate had received funding to support its work with young people who have recently become homeless or are at risk of homelessness.
“The Inala to Ipswich Reconnect program aims to reconnect young people with their family or extended family. When this is not possible, it finds stable, suitable accommodation elsewhere, and aims to keep young people in school, employment or training, and build their connections with the local community.
“I know how vital the Albanese Labor Government’s investment in this initiative is to our community through the Reconnect program and it will help combat youth homelessness in Ipswich.”
Reconnect is a community-based early intervention and prevention program targeted towards young people who are experiencing or are at-risk of experiencing homelessness, and their families.
Through Reconnect, young people aged 12 to 18 years (or 12 to 21 years for newly arrived youth) can access counselling, group work, mediation and specialised mental health services, to improve relationships with their family, stay at school, and participate in their local community.
The Albanese Government is continuing to implement its broader housing reform agenda through the development of a new National Housing and Homelessness Plan.
The Plan will help set out a shared national vision on tackling the country’s housing challenges across the responsibilities of different levels of government, and how best to support those experiencing housing stress and homelessness.
The Government launched an Issues Paper at the start of Homelessness Week this week, stating that the Plan was a crucial part of the Government’s broader housing reforms.
Mr Neumann noted that too many people are struggling to find a safe and affordable place to buy, to rent or to spend the night in the community.
“Through the National Housing and Homelessness Plan, we will set out how these issues can be tackled head on by governments with short, medium and long term reforms.
“I’m proud that alongside the Reconnect Program, the Government has an ambitious housing reform agenda to improve the outcomes for Australians at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness,” he said.
The National Housing and Homelessness Plan is being developed in close collaboration with state and territory governments, and local government associations.
People are now encouraged to share their experiences to help inform the development of the Plan. Local governments, not-for-profit and civil society organisations, industry bodies, superannuation funds and other experts in housing, finance and urban development are also invited to take part.
A public submission process, which will run for six weeks, as well as nationwide consultations will help determine the priorities in the Plan.
More information can be found on the Department of Social Services (DSS) Engage website: https://engage.dss.gov.au/developing-the-national-housing-and-homelessness-plan/
More information regarding the Reconnect program is available on the DSS website: https://www.dss.gov.au/families-and-children-programs-services/reconnect
