Date: Saturday 25 July
Time: 10:00am – 10:50am
Location: Fringe Room 2
Format: Panel discussion
Organisation: Homelessness Australia
Australia’s housing crisis has supercharged homelessness. Three million Australians are now one setback away from losing their home, including growing numbers of people in paid work. Frontline homelessness services face demand far beyond their capacity to respond.
As homelessness becomes more visible, governments face pressure to move people on. But pushing people out of sight doesn’t end homelessness. Progressive governments must respond to legitimate community concerns with solutions that work, while resisting the politics of blame and division.
Labor’s Homes for Australia plan lays the foundation for a different approach, focused on housing supply, prevention, Housing First, cross-government coordination, First Nations partnership and measurable outcomes. The challenge now is turning these principles into investment and systems that reduce homelessness.
This panel will explore how Labor can treat social and First Nations housing as essential infrastructure; make proven approaches such as Housing First, First Nations led responses, and early intervention business as usual; and bring housing, health, mental health and community services together to prevent homelessness.
We know what works. Are we ready to deliver it at the scale Australians need?
Panel
- Josh Burns MP, Special Envoy for Social Housing and Homelessness
- Patricia Cotton, CEO, Yangadlitya Indigenous Corporation
- Uncle Moogy Sumner, Ngarrindjeri Elder and cultural leader
- Nicola Ballenden, Executive Director Research ‑ Advocacy & Policy Development, Mind Australia
- Kate Colvin, CEO, Homelessness Australia — facilitator
