Media release
The number of ACT residents struggling to pay their energy bills has increased by 78% since 2021, highlighting an urgent need for comprehensive and immediate intervention. Priority groups, including low-income households and renters, are disproportionately affected by rising energy costs and inadequate housing conditions, leaving many unable to heat or cool their homes safely and […]
Today, ACT Council of Social Services (ACTCOSS) CEO, Dr Devin Bowles, has launched the ACTCOSS ‘Community Sector Investment Over Time’ research in front of the ACT Legislative Assembly. Despite the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis, the ACT Government investment in the community sector as a proportion of all government expenditure decreased by 30% between 2009-10 […]
Today on Monday, 14 October, political candidates outlined their plans that would affect the lives of over 38,000 Canberrans living in poverty, at the Anti-Poverty Week Community forum. Organised by the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) and Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn, the forum highlighted how the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, housing crisis and rising inequality are impacting […]
ACTCOSS’s latest ACT Cost of Living Report reveals persistently high inflation and high interest rates are exacting a devastating toll on low-income households and adding to demand for community sector services across the ACT. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Devin Bowles said: “The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has extended the reach of financial stress to more and more […]
ACTCOSS and ACT Shelter have today launched their shared housing and homelessness election platform, which calls on all political parties and candidates in the upcoming ACT Election to commit to transformational investment in social housing. Amidst a housing crisis fuelling cost-of-living pressures, ACTCOSS and ACT Shelter warned of a deepening housing divide and growing homelessness […]
The ACTforCommunity campaign launch is being held on Tuesday 30 July at 10am at a building typical of many community sector workplaces across the ACT. This is to highlight the need for more investment in the community sector and community service facilities. “The ACT Council of Social Services (ACTCOSS), the ACT Community Sector Peak bodies […]
Decisive action is required to help Canberrans doing it tough through the cost-of-living crisis. While the ACT Budget contains some welcome cost-of-living relief measures, the Budget as a whole does not sufficiently emphasise or help people being pushed to the economic margins. To be most effective for Canberrans in need, the Budget needed to target […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) responded to today’s announcement by the ACT Greens of an election commitment to build and buy 10,000 new public housing dwellings in ten years. “ACTCOSS calls on all parties and candidates to commit to similarly transformative change of the ACT’s housing system,” said Dr Devin Bowles. “Business as […]
On 11/12/2023 it was announced Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith will become the Minister for Disability in the ACT, replacing Minister Emma Davidson. We welcome Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith as the new Minister for Disability and look forward to a vibrant and robust working relationship with her and her team. We are eager to assist Minister Stephen-Smith to […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed the ACT Government’s decision to not proceed with mandatory relocations under the Growing and Renewing Public Housing Program. “We commend the ACT Government for responding to the recommendations made by the ACT Ombudsman, and for listening to the concerns raised by public housing tenants and the […]