AFI has made a submission to the Federal Housing and Homelessness Plan consultation being run by the Department of Social Services. In our submission we say we we are disappointed that the discussion paper on the Housing and Homelessness Plan does not contain more focus on the housing needs of people with disability and we would urge the final plan for prioritise this.
Specifically, we urge attention to a range of priorities identified in our White Paper on housing as well as the recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission to ensure accessible and affordable housing for Canberrans with disability. We seek planning reform, prompt implementation of the new ABCB Guidelines, a focus on public and community controlled social housing in the community, a move away from group housing and market development work to grow stock in the private sector.. We note the strong connections and interdependence between housing stress and availability and poverty plus entry into acute and segregated settings. We also note the need for more accessible homelessness services available to people in crisis.