LABOR GOVT FAILING LOCAL HOMELESSNESS SERVICES

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has expressed his disappointment with NSW Labor Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson's rejection of an application for funding by Salt Care and Safe Waters Community Care from the Homelessness Innovation Fund on the eve of Christmas last year.

Mr Ward said: “In Opposition, NSW Labor promised ongoing funding to local homelessness services through to 2026, but in a letter dated 20 December. NSW Labor has yet again broken another promise with vital funds for homelessness services in our community,” he said.

“As a former Homelessness Minister who halved rough sleeping in NSW, I am disappointed at the choices made by the Minister and this government. These homelessness services are on fire, they are burning under the pressure, and these important services deserve better,” Mr Ward said.

CEO of Salt Care Pastor Peter Dover, and CEO of Safe Waters Community Care, Sarah Date, expressed their disappointment and frustration at the decision to decline their funding applications.

“We are disappointed by the rejection of our funding application, especially after Minister Jackson assured us that she understood the two-year gap caused by delays to the Specialist Homelessness Services contracts and told us that the pathway for Safe Waters was through the Housing Innovation Fund,” Ms Date said.

“We understand there are two more rounds, but being declined the first time places us in significant uncertainty about future funding. We’re also confused by feedback that claimed we had already opened our new shelter in November – which is incorrect – and are operating our new project/model,” Ms Date said.

“We were advised that we couldn’t use future government long-term funding as part of our sustainability plan, yet other successful applicants are already long-term government-funded services. It’s frustrating to see these funds allocated to services that already receive millions of dollars every year for existing programs,” Pastor Dover added.

“It’s especially disheartening that our region has been overlooked again – in particular Ulladulla. We genuinely believed Minister Jackson was on board with us. Over the past two years, we’ve worked closely with her, sharing the same passion for meaningful change in our current systems, and supporting local organisations tackling homelessness.”

Mr Ward called on the NSW Government to reconsider its priorities and deliver the promised support for local homelessness services that are critical to vulnerable communities in the South Coast.

“Whilst the Member for South Coast promises action, her representations and actions don’t deliver on promises made to local homelessness services who are effecting real change,” Mr Ward said.

“Whilst this government can find $16 million for violent sports like UFC, they can’t find promised funding for homelessness services supporting the most vulnerable.

“Our local community deserves to know what is really going on here and I will continue to raise my concerns in Parliament and continue to submit Questions on Notice until the Minns NSW Labor Government listens to our local community,” Mr Ward said.