Australia’s Councils of Social Service (ACOSS) has challenged Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to put homelessness back at the top of the federal election campaign agenda and halve the rate of homelessness by 2020.
ACOSS’ Fernando de Freitos says that more than 100,000 Australians are homeless each night.
In 2008 the Federal government under Prime Minister Rudd committed to halve this number. Federal and state governments’ have agreed fund a Partnership Agreement on Housing and Homelessness, until 30 June next year.
“A long-term approach is critical if we are to truly tackle homelessness and provide safe and secure homes for all Australians,” Mr de Freitos says.