This week is anti-poverty week – an annual event shining a spotlight on poverty to encourage Australians to focus on a solution. This year the campaign will focus on supporting affordable housing to reducing poverty.

There are 600 people experiencing homelessness across Ipswich, the Somerset Region and Karana Downs area, with a shortfall of 4,400 social housing dwellings – one of the highest rates of social housing shortfall nationally.

Federal Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann said these figures demonstrate that our community is not immune to homelessness, and the Morrison Government has ignored this crisis by failing to invest a single extra dollar in social housing in the Budget.

“The solution to homelessness is a no brainer,” Mr Neumann said.

“Housing Affordability is one of the biggest issues facing Australians, and the COVID-19 crisis has made it even clearer just how important it is to have safe and affordable housing.

“For months Labor has been calling on the Morrison Government to invest more in social housing. This would be a win-win. It would provide work for thousands of tradies and put a roof over the head of Australians who desperately need it.”

There are also more Australians experiencing homelessness than ever before, particularly among women and children experiencing domestic and family violence, older women, veterans and our First Nations people.

Homelessness in Australia is defined as people sleeping rough, couch surfing, living in a car or other vehicle, or in a single dwelling of extreme overcrowding.

“Labor is calling on the Morrison Government to create work for thousands of tradies in almost every suburb and town across Australia by investing half a billion dollars to fast-track urgent repairs to social housing.”