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Questions On Notice Questions on notice are usually asked when a more detailed answer is required and are in writing, and are forwarded by the Clerk of the Parliament to the relevant Minister who prepares a written answer which is presented to Parliament.
MR LAWLOR MP asked the Minister for Communities, Minister for Disability Services Queensland, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Minister for Seniors and Youth (MR PITT)-
Question:
With reference to page 1-30 of his Ministerial Portfolio Statement which refers to supporting homeless
people- What is his department doing to address homelessness?
ANSWER:
In January 2005, I signed the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program Bilateral Agreement between
the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments, in relation to the Supported Accommodation Assistance
Program (SAAP). The latest SAAP Bilateral Agreement covers the period from October 2005 to June 2010.
The SAAP is a joint Commonwealth-State funding program, which provides support and supported
accommodation to people experiencing homelessness.
The Queensland Government is committed to addressing homelessness and has committed additional
resources to fund non-government organisations that are supporting homeless people.
For the first time in the history of the SAAP, Queensland is the dominant funding partner.
The Commonwealth will remove $9.3 million over five years from Queensland's funding base and the
Queensland Government is making up the shortfall.
This is despite Queensland having approximately 19 per cent of Australia's total population and 25 per
cent of its homeless population, but receiving only 16.6 per cent of Commonwealth SAAP funding.
SAAP is the Queensland Government's primary response to homelessness.
In 2006-07, $63.5 million was allocated in Queensland for SAAP homelessness services, as part of the
government's commitment to safe and supportive communities.
The SAAP National Data Collection Annual report shows that in 2005-06 there were 203 SAAP funded
agencies in Queensland. Of these 203 agencies, 28 were funded to provide assistance to families, 68
services to assist young people, 54 to women and their accompanying children escaping domestic
violence, 38 to provide assistance to multiple target groups, 11 services to assist single men and four
services to assist single women. The Department of Communities is working to improve existing responses to homelessness and to better
integrate services for people affected by homelessness under the Responding to Homelessness initiative.
The government recognises that such a complex issue as homelessness cannot always be resolved
quickly and by any one agency.
Under the Responding to Homelessness initiative additional funds of $12.4 million was allocated in 2006-
07 for a range of new SAAP services including:
− $5.7 million to establish accommodation for homeless people with complex needs, young people
and homeless families in five locations;
− $3.4 million for homelessness early intervention services in 11 locations; and
− $1 million to deliver Homeless Persons Information Queensland, a state-wide telephone
information and referral service for Queenslanders who are experiencing homelessness or at risk
of homelessness.
Under the SAAP, the Department of Communities also allocated $1 million to five community services under
the whole-of-government Drug Court program. This funding provides accommodation support services for drug
court participants who would otherwise be unable to participate in the program due to a lack of access to
safe or appropriate accommodation.
In addition to funds provided under SAAP, grant funds of up to $1.6 million have been allocated under the
homelessness key funding area for supported accommodation services as part of the whole-ofgovernment
Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program, which will be trialled over three years
from July 2007.
The primary goal of the program is to break the alcohol-crime cycle by involving eligible Indigenous
participants in treatment and case management programs. Supported accommodation services will be
provided in Rockhampton (including Woorabinda), Cairns (including Yarrabah) and Townsville (including
Palm Island), under the Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program.
The Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program is jointly delivered by the Departments of Justice
and Attorney-General, Queensland Health, Corrective Services, Housing, Communities and the
Queensland Police Service and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is the lead agency. Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 1:04 PM
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