An open letter to Malcolm Turnbull

6 December 2016

To: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull MP

CC: Treasurer Scott Morrison MP
CC: Minister for Social Services Christian Porter MP
CC: Assistant Minister for Social Services Senator Zed Seselja

Dear Prime Minister,

The 209 undersigned organisations are seeking your urgent intervention to avert the human, economic and policy disaster that will occur if the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) is de-funded in 2017.

We call on you to extend the NPAH immediately to provide long-term funding certainty and future indexation for 180 frontline community services across Australia.

These services keep people safe, off the streets and alive. They work across the spectrum of need, including supporting women and children to overcome family violence and sexual assault, preventing homelessness for young people leaving the child protection system, and re-establishing housing for people with extreme health problems and long histories of sleeping rough.

The NPAH has been in operation for eight years and facilitates over $230 million of government investment each year, with contributions split evenly between the Federal Government and the states and territories. This funds around one-third of Australia’s total homelessness service system, providing support to around 80,000 people in crisis each year.

Cuts to the NPAH will withdraw support from some of the most vulnerable people in our community. We will see more people living on the streets of our cities and towns, more women facing family violence and sexual assault alone, fewer young people going to school, higher unemployment, more admissions to emergency departments and the loss of lives that we can save.

These cuts will be particularly harmful for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who disproportionately experience both family violence and homelessness.

Premiers, chief ministers and housing ministers are united across party lines in support of the NPAH because of the clear and measurable social and economic benefits it provides. We urge you to listen to them, listen to us and listen to the many Australians who are asking you to save these services.

The December 9 COAG meeting provides an opportunity to end the uncertainty facing Australia’s homelessness system and guarantee future support for 80,000 people who quite literally have nowhere else to turn. Without a decision before Christmas, services will be forced to start preparing for the end of the NPAH by letting staff go and closing referrals for long-term and intensive support.

On behalf of the 209 organisations below, the 40,000 Australians who signed the Vote Home Campaign petitions – and most importantly on behalf of the 105,000 Australians who face homelessness on any given night – we ask you to secure the future of the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness as an urgent priority.

Yours sincerely,
Jenny Smith, Chairperson, Homelessness Australia
Adrian Pisarski, CEO, National Shelter

1. Jenny Smith, Homelessness Australia

2. Adrian Pisarski, National Shelter

3. Sara Harrup, 139 Club

4. Antoinette Braybrook, Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention & Legal Service Victoria

5. Dr Cassandra Goldie, ACOSS

6. Susan Helyar, ACTCOSS

7. Travis Gilbert, ACT Shelter

8. Fiona May, ACT Disability Aged and Carer Advocacy Service

9. Kasy Chambers, Anglicare Australia

10. Chris Jones, Anglicare Tasmania

11. Julie Oberin, Annie North Women’s Refuge

12. Rick England, Albany Youth Support Association

13. David Patras, All Round Health and Community Care

14. Diann Rodgers-Healey, Australian Centre for Leadership for Women

15. Joan Garvan, Australian Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement

16. Judy Slatyer, Australian Red Cross

17. Linda White, Australian Services Union

18. Kelly Bannister, Australian Women’s Health Network

19. Merrindahl Andrew, Australian Women Against Violence Alliance

20. Alphonse Mulamba, Assisted Rental Pathways Pilot

21. Kate Timmins, B Miles Women’s Foundation

22. Carolyn Kershaw, Baptist Care Australia

23. Paul Scully, Baptist Care SA

24. Nick Hudson, Barwon Community Legal Service

25. Sandie de Wolf, Berry Street

26. Grant Boyd, Bethany Community Support

27. Patrick Carlyle, Bethlehem House Tasmania

28. Melinda Lawley, The Bridge Youth Service

29. Rebecca Pinkstone, Bridge Housing

30. Annemaree Callandar, Brisbane Youth Service

31. Sarah Sihlen, Broome Youth and Families Hub

32. Donna Wynters, Brophy Family & Youth Services

33. Ana Greenfield, Caloundra Community Centre

34. Nicole Townsend, Canberra Youth Residential Service

35. Jan McDonald, Carrie’s Place Domestic Violence and Homelessness Services

36. Anne Bates, Castlemaine District Community Health

37. Linda Matthews, Catherine House

38. Graham West, Catholic Social Services Australia

39. Peter Richardson, CatholicCare Sandhurst

40. Dale P West, Centacare Catholic Family Services

41. Lorenzo Woodford, Centacare Evolve

42. Dr Debbie Faulkner, The Centre for Housing, Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Adelaide

43. Tony Pietropiccolo, Centrecare

44. Stephanie Gotlib, Children and Young People with Disability Australia

45. Jamie Muchall, CHPs for Queensland

46. Dean Phelan, Churches of Christ in Queensland

47. Margaret McDonald, Cobaw Community Health

48. Louise Cornish, Colony 47

49. Sonya Keep, Common Ground Queensland

50. Carmel Rosier, Community Housing Council of SA

51. Lesley Dredge, Community Housing Federation of Victoria

52. Peter Winzar

Community Housing Industry Association

53. James Farrell, Community Legal Centres Queensland

54. Jenny Davidson, Council of Single Mothers and Their Children Victoria

55. Jenny Smith, Council to Homeless Persons

56. Moo Bausch, Domestic Violence NSW

57. Fiona McCormick, Domestic Violence Victoria

58. Emily Maguire, Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria

59. Marluce Silva Peters, Doris Women’s Refuge

60. Paula Westhead, emerge women & children’s support network

61. Patrick Bulman, Encircle

62. Hannah Gissane, Equality Rights Alliance – Women’s Voices for Gender Equality

63. Vivi Germanos-Koutsounadis, Ethnic Communities Services Co-Operative

64. Dr Emma Campbell, Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia

65. Kathleen Gregory, Foundation Housing

66. Judy McLean, Fremantle Community Legal Centre

67. Lisa Dunbar, Georgina Martina

68. Lesley Healey, Gold Coast Youth Service

69. Christina Abson, Good Samaritan Inn

70. Tammy Smith, Goulburn Integrated Family Violence Committee

71. Mat Flynn, Haymarket Foundation

72. Janet Saunders, Hobart Women’s Shelter

73. Neal Taylor, Holy Fools

74. Katherine McKernan, Homelessness NSW

75. Donna Bennett, Hope Street Youth and Family Services

76. Fiona York, Housing for the Aged Action Group

77. Penny Dordoy, Housing First

78. Jan Armstrong, Hume Region Homelessness Network Coordinator

79. Kirsten Sandstrom, HYPA

80. Lisa Evans, Inala Youth Service

81. Don Tunniclifee, Indigo Junction

82. Dan Stubbs, Inner Melbourne Community Legal

83. Deb Blakeney, inPlace

84. Bianca Law, Ipswich Housing and Support Services

85. Lynette Sikkema, Jireh House

86. Lucy Adams, Justice Connect Homeless Law

87. Judith van Unen, Justice Equality Rights Access

88. Karinya Young Women’s Service

89. Lorrae Loud, Lamp

90. Tony Keenan, Launch Housing

91. Rhonda Collins, Latitude: Directions for Young People

92. Grant Lower, Lighthouse Youth Initiative

93. Yvonne Wilson, Linking Communities Network

94. Robert Pelletier, Macarthur Legal Centre

95. Coordinator, Maleny Neighbourhood Centre

96. Marita Romano, Mareeba and Tableland District Homeless Reference Group

97. Julie Theakston, Mareeba Community Centre

98. Patricia Goldfinch, Mareeba Community Housing Company

99. Leah Hardiman, Maternity Choices Australia

100. Vicky Sutton, Melbourne City Mission

101. Zoe Davies, Mental Health Community Coalition ACT

102. Chris Hall, MercyCare

103. Karyn Walsh, Micah Projects

104. Maria Johns, Migrant Women’s Lobby of South Australia

105. Judith Bowtell, Milk Crate Theatre

106. Catherine Yeomans, Mission Australia

107. Pius Joseph, Multicultural Services Centre of WA

108. Cathie Nederveen, Mitcham Family Violence Education and Support Service

109. Ann Husband, Morris House Neighbourhood Centre

110. Helena Kyriazopoulos, Multicultural Communities Council of SA

111. Mark Wichnat, Nambour Community Centre

112. Julia Hall, National Association of Community Legal Centres

113. Terese Edwards, National Council of Single Mothers and their Children

114. Antoinette Braybrook, National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services

115. Marie Coleman, National Foundation for Australian Women

116. Joanna Siejka, National Youth Coalition for Housing

117. Tracy Howe, NCOSS

118. Liz Yeo, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre

119. Rashmi Kumar, No To Violence (NTV), the Male Family Violence Prevention Association

120. Catherine Cates, North East Community Support Group

121. Nicole Walsh, North West Youth Accommodation Service

122. Sarah Johnson, Northern Integrated Family Violence Services

123. Kate Cvetanovski, Northside Community Service

124. Wendy Hayhurst, NSW Federation of Housing Associations

125. Tammy White, NT Shelter

126. Aloma Fennell, Older Women’s Network Australia

127. Kate Witherdin, Options Youth Housing

128. Peter Gallagher, Orana Support Service

129. Janine Moule, Outer Southern Generic Homelessness Service – Lutheran Community Care

130. Tammy Smith, Ovens Murray Integrated Family Violence Strategic Committee

131. Matthew Bowden/Ngila Bevan, People with Disability Australia

132. Stephanie Oatley, Platform Youth Services

133. Michael Moore, Public Health Association of Australia

134. Leone Crayden, Q Shelter

135. Greg Mackay, Refugee and Immigration Legal Service

136. Justine Colyer, Rise Network

137. Celia Adams, Rural Housing Network

138. Ross Womersley, SACOSS

139. Michael White, SA Network of Drug and Alcohol Services

140. Cathy Humphrey, Sacred Heart Mission

141. Annette Gillespie, Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre

142. Major Michael Coleman, The Salvation Army

143. Jenny Plant, The Salvation Army Crisis Services

144. Rita Lawrence, The Salvation Army Social Housing and Support Network

145. Scott Cugley, The Salvation Army Port Augusta Community Services

146. Carolyn Campbell, The Salvation Army Oasis Youth Services

147. Ralph Salera, The Salvation Army WestCare

148. Jade Blakkarly, The Salvation Army Crossroads

149. Jane McIvor, Sector Connect

150. Sharon Large, Shelter Housing Action Cairns

151. Mary Perkins, Shelter NSW

152. Dr Alice Clark, Shelter SA

153. Pattie Chugg, Shelter Tasmania

154. Robert Gough, Shelter WA

155. Catherine Santo, SMR Integrated Family Violence Executive

156. Ralda Forzin, Soroptimist International of Australia

157. Carolyn Worth, Southern Melbourne Integrated Family Violence Partnership

158. Narelle Clay, Southern Youth and Family Services

159. John Berger, St Bartholomew’s House

160. Geoff Head, St. Benedict’s Community Centre

161. Karen Walsh, St George Community Housing

162. Wendy Malycha, St John’s Youth Services

163. Nigel Parker, St Laurence House

164. Steve McDermott, St Patrick’s Community Support Centre

165. Halime Aldemir, Statewide Children’s Resource program

166. Paul Edginton, SYC

167. Kym Goodes, TASCOSS

168. Lisa Graham, Taldumande Youth Services

169. Pattie Chugg, Tasmanian Youth Housing and Homelessness Group

170. Mark Ferry, Ted Noffs Foundation

171. Julie Forman, Tenants’ Union of NSW

172. Debbie Sturt, Tumut Regional Family Services

173. Carmen Hannaker, Union of Australian Women

174. Susie Urban, United Pathways

175. Peter Worland, Uniting

176. Tracey Gibson, UnitingCare Gippsland

177. Joe Gannon, UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide

178. Monica Taylor, University of Queensland Pro Bono Centre

179. Emma King, VCOSS

180. Jill Ritherdon, Venture Housing Company

181. Zeynep Yesilyurt, The Victorian Immigrant & Refugee Women’s Coalition

182. John Blewonski, VincentCare Victoria

183. Nicole Robinson, VincentCare Victoria – Northern Victoria Community Hub

184. Irini Cattalini, WACOSS

185. Wesley Mission Victoria

186. Julie Oberin, WESNET

187. Dr Lynette Buoy, Windermere

188. Julie Kun, WIRE

189. Steve Maher, Wombat Housing and Support Services

190. Helen Silvia, Women and Girls’ Emergency Centre

191. Linda Simon, Women in Adult and Vocational Education

192. Keran Howe, Women with Disabilities Victoria

193. Emma Davidson, Women’s Electoral Lobby

194. Dr Robyn Gregory, Women’s Health West

195. Judy Line, Women’s Housing Ltd

196. Agata Wierzbowski, Women’s Legal Services Australia

197. Caroline Larcher, Women’s Property Initiatives

198. Paul Madden, The Wyatt Trust

199. Michael Perusco, Yarra Community Housing

200. Di Glover, YES Youth & Family Services

201. Michael Coffey, Yfoundations

202. Laurel Sellers, Yorgum Aboriginal Corporation

203. Anne Bainbridge, Youth Affairs Council of SA

204. Rebecca Cuzillo, Youth Coalition of the ACT

205. Ros Atkinson, Youth Family and Community Connections

206. Joanna Siejka, Youth Network of Tasmania

207. Lisa Legge, Youth Futures

208. Lex Nadine Luterborrow, Youth Off The Streets

209. Frances Crimmons, YWCA Canberra