Helping Central Coast homeless

Homeless and vulnerable people accessing temporary accommodation across the Central Coast will no longer have to prove they have been rejected from private rentals to receive support.

31 May 2023

 

THE Central Coast homeless community deserves compassion and support and forcing people to apply for rentals they know they won’t get for a tick-a-box exercise is unfair and cruel.

 

Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness Rose Jackson said that from 1 July people in temporary accommodation won’t need to complete a Rental Diary to demonstrate they are actively looking for housing.

 

“We want to ease the burden on people trying to find stable accommodation, not add to it,” Ms Jackson said.

 

“We’re committed to rebuilding the housing system and restoring dignity in the process. Part of that includes the removing the requirement of the unnecessary ‘Seeker Diaries’.

 

“The Temporary Accommodation Rental Diary or ‘Seeker Diary’ was introduced more than 10 years ago, under the previous Liberal Government, and there is limited evidence it is improving housing outcomes for rough sleepers and other people at risk of homelessness.

 

“Women and children escaping domestic violence and flood victims are among the many individuals and families accessing temporary accommodation and we must do everything we can to support these people. Part of that is breaking down barriers they may already be facing, like time-consuming administration.”

 

“Vulnerable people seeking housing need support not arbitrary, bureaucratic processes. In the face of a housing and rental crisis, we want to remove unnecessary requirements and the Seeker Diary is definitely one of them.”

 

Residents in temporary accommodation will still work with the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) to help resolve their long-term housing needs.

 

There will be a 12-month freeze on the requirement to complete seeker diaries while the scheme is thoroughly reviewed and assessed.

 

DCJ Housing staff are available to assist people in temporary accommodation to find stable housing. Residents can visit their local housing office or call the Housing Contact Centre on 1800 422 322.

 

“This change is about giving people in difficult situations proper support to help them into housing and providing a safe place to help develop long-term housing solutions,” Ms Jackson added.

 

The NSW Government has also granted a two-year extension of Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) contracts, providing stability and continuity for some of the state's most vulnerable people.

 

Minister Jackson, has acknowledged that the surge in demand has been driven by the effects of the pandemic, natural disasters, and the escalating housing affordability crisis.

 

Contracts for Specialist Homelessness Services and the Homeless Youth Assistance Program are set to expire on 30 June 2024.

 

“I am extending these existing contracts for a further two years. This will increase the current contract term from three years up to five years. The end date for these contracts will change from 30 June 2024 to 30 June 2026,” Ms Jackson said.

 

“Tens of thousands of people rely on us each year for essential support during times of crisis and it’s important for us to support them and the organisations that work to provide housing solutions to our most vulnerable,”

 

“We are committed to delivering on our election commitments, which includes longer term, 5-year funding certainty for Specialist Homelessness Services.

 

“This important reform will ensure SHS providers have certainty about funding, staffing, and continuing the incredible work they do to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

 

Specialist Homelessness Services are focused on reducing the number of people who are homeless or living in insecure accommodation in NSW.

 

This includes young people, families, natural disaster victims and women and children escaping domestic violence.

 

Everyone in NSW should have access to safe and secure housing. The NSW Government is committed towards increasing housing supply and delivering solutions to help break cycles of homelessness.

 

If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of homelessness, help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling Link2home on 1800 152 152.