Capital City Lord Mayors to host national homelessness summit

Following their meeting yesterday with Assistant Housing Minister Luke Howarth, the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors (CCCLM) met in Brisbane today to further discuss their next steps in combating homelessness.

Lord Mayors resolved to organise and host a national homelessness summit in the next few months to bring together decision makers from all levels of government to address this growing issue. The summit would seek agreement to create a national homelessness and housing strategy to take urgent action to address the homelessness and affordable housing crisis in Australia’s cities.

“We need to work together to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness and housing stress in cities across Australia. As Mayors we want to work together with State and Federal Governments to create a national homelessness strategy. The summit will help fast-track our efforts and bring national attention to the homelessness we’re seeing far too often on the streets of our
major cities,” said Melbourne Lord Mayor, Sally Capp.

“As Capital City Lord Mayors, we are united in our determination to work with the other levels of government to address the homelessness crisis, and we were pleased Assistant Minister Howarth joined us to hear about the reality of the homelessness in capital cities.

“We need the Federal and State/Territory Governments to take real action by increasing funding for social and affordable housing, particularly in inner cities” said Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said, “I spoke to the Assistant Minister about the practical steps the Commonwealth can take to reduce homelessness. One of which is to allow the states and territories
to refinance their historic housing debts with lower interest rates. Another is to free up unused commonwealth land for affordable housing projects”.

“Representing the leaders of Australia’s capital cities, the CCCLM has a crucial role to play and a unique opportunity to show leadership in tackling homelessness in Australia. We look forward to working with Federal and State decision makers to get more action on this issue” said CCCLM Chair and Lord Mayor of Hobart Anna Reynolds.