Overview
Mission Australia supports the intent of the National Housing and Homelessness Plan Bill 2024 (No. 2). We agree with our housing and homelessness peak bodies – Homelessness Australia, National Shelter, and the Community Housing Industry Association - that the National Housing and Homelessness Plan (Plan) should be legislated. Legislating a statutory basis for the Plan would be an effective mechanism for establishing governance and accountability structures that would contribute to ending homelessness and ensuring that all Australians have access to a safe, secure and affordable home. We advocate for:
- Mandating the Federal Government to develop and maintain a 10-year Plan, to report regularly on progress against the Plan and to review it at timely intervals
- Taking a rights-based approach to housing
Involving people with lived experience in co-designing all aspects of a systems approach to housing and homelessness - Establishing governance arrangements – including a new National Housing and Homelessness Advocate - to report on systemic issues and progress