Federal, state and territory ministers will meet in Melbourne today for what is expected to be a tense meeting to thrash out funding for additional emergency housing for the homeless.Both levels of government are accusing the other of not doing enough to address the problem.
Welfare groups dealing with the problem of homelessness report that every day across Australia, 700 people have to be turned away from assistance services like emergency accommodation.
It is estimated that 200 of those homeless people are children. For them, the alternative is a night sleeping rough in parks and laneways, under bridges or in doorways.
Homeless Perth man Clinton Burton, 33, said: "I think that a majority of places, they don't have a lot of money to help out the homeless people."
Today, state and federal community service and housing ministers will gather in Melbourne in a bid to reach agreement on a new Supported Accommodation Assistance Program.
While the existing agreement is due to expire at the end of June, the Commonwealth still appears to be a long way short of its contribution.
$8 Million dollar hole
The Federal Opposition argues the Government has cut the Commonwealth's contribution by about $8 million a year
Agencies working with the homeless fear that current services will be cut if the states do not match the Commonwealth dollar for dollar.
The Australian Federation of Homeless Organisations wants a 40 per cent increase in the overall funding from federal and state governments.
But it says even if the states do come up with extra funds, it does not appear that the Commonwealth is willing to provide any real increase.
By Nick Grimm and Just Us 11 March 05
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