LABOR FAILS TO DELIVER FOR SHOALHAVEN HOMELESSNESS SERVICES

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has slammed NSW Labor for failing to deliver on a promise for vital funding and support for two local homelessness services in the NSW State Budget.

Minister for Homelessness Rose Jackson promised an additional $250,000 for Salt Care and Safe Waters Shoalhaven; however, the most recent State budget has failed to deliver on a promise made to these two services.

“Whilst election promises should always be delivered, to lie to homelessness support service is as low as it gets. This is totally unacceptable,” Mr Ward said.

“As a former Minister for Homelessness, I am disgusted that a Minister would promise funding and then not deliver on it.

“This means that two Shoalhaven Homelessness services will no longer be able to provide the level of care they have previously provided to our region.

“I am calling the Member for South Coast to explain why her government has lied to our community, social services workers and local homelessness providers. This isn’t good enough.

Peter Dover from Salt Care said he was deeply disappointed the government hasn’t come good on its promise.

“These two services have now been advised that a ‘Homelessness Innovation Fund’ is to be established and they can apply for that “once it comes out,’’ said Peter Dover

“Without knowing the timeframe of when these funds will be available or how much will be available, places these vital services in an extremely vulnerable. We only have enough money in the bank to last us 4 months and then we will need to close our shelter if we can’t receive funding.

“Safe Waters have their second shelter about to be opened within 2 months. The uncertainty around funding places us in a difficult position with current staff already over capacity in their workload, a rapid growth period and an upcoming shelter to be opened – we were relying on these funds and now we have nothing,’’ Peter Dover concluded.