SYHS Refunding Update
There have been many enquiries about how funding arrangements for specialist homelessness services which expire on 30 June 2023 will be renegotiated.
The response from the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy is as follows:
The department understands the importance of continuity and certainty of funding for the sector to sustain service delivery and attract and retain the workforce.
As you would be aware, specialist homelessness services are funded by the department through the Homelessness Program, which comprises joint funding from the Queensland Government and Australian Government, through the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement (NHHA). Queensland’s Bilateral Agreement under the NHHA is due to expire on 30 June 2023.
On 14 December 2022, the Australian Government offered a one-year extension to the NHHA Bilateral agreement to 30 June 2024 to allow time to work through significant Australian Government reforms. The 2023-24 funding proposal for Queensland from the Australian Government does not include Social and Community Services (SACS) Equal Remuneration Order (ERO) supplementation, which is consistent with Federal Budget papers (Table 2.7, page 51 of Federal Budget Paper 3, October 2022).
The Queensland Government has advocated and continues to advocate strongly for Commonwealth funding sufficiency and certainty, including continuation of the SACS ERO supplementation.
The Queensland Government is currently considering the Australian Government’s offer and funding proposal and working through the implications for funding from 1 July 2023, including for funding agreements.
This work is being undertaken as a priority. We will ensure we continue to communicate with you on progress and outcomes as these become available, including the process for renegotiation of funding arrangements for specialist homelessness services.
