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

There are certainly some very good programs underway across the country. Last week I had the opportunity to visit Common Ground in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, in which the Australian and Victorian governments have invested around $46 million for development. Mr Stephen Nash, the chair of the Common Ground alliance and CEO of HomeGround Services, and Mr Rob Leslie, CEO of Yarra Community Housing, showed me around the site. I have to say it was hugely impressive. It was established using the model of New York’s Common Ground, which is based on the principle that you need to put people who are experiencing chronic homelessness into stable, permanent housing, coupled with onsite, wraparound support services, including health, counselling and vocational training.

As we know, tackling homelessness is not just about providing housing; it is also about critical support services. That is why Common Ground is such an important program. It certainly will make a long-term difference not only to those people suffering from homelessness but also to those people requiring low-cost, affordable housing. (Time expired)