News

Anglican to head govt homeless push
By Market-Place
March 12, 2008

Mr Tony Nicholson, Executive Director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence Tony Nicholson, the Executive Director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence has been appointed to oversee the development of the federal government's new plan to reduce homelessness in Australia.

The head of a key Anglican welfare agency, the Victorian-based Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) has been appointed to oversee the development of the federal government's new plan to reduce homelessness in Australia.

Federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek, says the Government would develop a White Paper on Homelessness to set the agenda on homelessness for the next

decade. A discussion paper (or Green Paper) will be released in May 2008 with a White Paper released in August-September.

Mr Tony Nicholson, Executive Director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence, was appointed to lead the group, the minister who described him as "one of the most skilled and dedicated workers on homelessness".

Homelessness Australia is to organise a meeting of homelessness service providers to kick off the process.

"The Government is committed to involving the entire community in this process," Tanya Plibersek said. "There are examples of excellent homelessness services across the country. I want to discuss with the sector how we can create better responses to homelessness right across Australia."

"There are 1300 or more charitable or community organizations that provide services to the homeless," Tony Nicholson told The Melbourne Anglican.

"If we are to be effective we have to do things differently. Simply doing more of the same will make little impact."

Mr Nicholson says more integration between homelessness assistance and employment issue is needed.

"I've worked in the area of homelessness for over 25 years and this is the most significant opportunity to address homeless ness in Australia.

"The answer to homelessness isn't simply the provision of shelter. We need to improve the capacity of homeless people to participate in the economy and in the mainstream life of the nation."