Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Hansard source

Many of the homes that are being delivered under the govern­ment's social housing programs will provide accommodation for the elderly, people with disability and those who are unable to afford housing. At least half of the 21,000 homes constructed under the Social Housing Initiative will go to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The government is proud of its record investment in the area of addressing homelessness. We have provided an additional $5 million since 2008 to better address homelessness. There are 184 new or expanded initiatives under the national partnership agreement. But it is more than just providing a roof; we also need to provide services to people most in need. That is why I was so pleased that in the budget the government put forward an extra $200 million under the watch of the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mr Butler, in terms of mental health, for support for accommodation. This support will go to people most in need, providing them with the assistance they need to establish a home. (Time expired)