Media release
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today released its second 2020 ACT Election issue brief, naming the lack of affordable housing as the biggest single challenge confronting people on low incomes. The issue brief Fixing Canberra’s housing crisis calls for an incoming ACT Government to address the chronic shortage of affordable housing in Canberra […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed the ACT Government’s long overdue announcement that it will expand Canberra’s free public WiFi network to additional suburbs. This announcement came on the eve of a national report on telecommunications affordability for waged poor households released by the South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) and […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today released the first of its twelve issues briefs for the 2020 ACT Election to be rolled out over the next few weeks. The issues brief – Supporting the Community Services Sector – calls for the incoming ACT Government to conduct a full needs analysis to understand increasing […]
$61m public housing investment welcomed, but at what opportunity cost for thousands still waiting for a home? ACT Shelter, ACTCOSS and the Community Housing Industry Association (ACT Region) collectively welcome the Homelessness Week Housing Stimulus announced by the Chief Minister today but question the opportunity cost, and warn that without substantial and sustained ongoing investment […]
The ACT Council of Social Service has welcomed the ACT Government’s announcement of a $61 million investment in public housing, including the construction of 60 public housing properties, taking the total number of additional public housing dwellings promised under the Strategy to 2060. The announcement also includes building upgrades and energy efficiency improvements to existing […]
Heat maps released today by Homelessness Australia and Everybody’s Home have revealed a shortfall of 3,000 social housing dwellings in the ACT, while almost 1,600 people in the ACT are homeless. These figures, released at the start of Homelessness Week 2020, highlight yet again the urgent need for the Federal and ACT governments to deliver […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed the release of the report from the Inquiry into Building Quality in the ACT by the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, as well as work to improve certification, but has warned of consequences for low-income and vulnerable households unless a focus on improving building […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed yesterday’s announcement by the ACT Attorney General, Gordon Ramsay MLA, that the eviction moratorium for COVID-19 impacted residential tenants has been extended for three months to 22 October 2020. The Attorney General also responded to calls from ACTCOSS and other advocates to allow COVID-19 impacted households […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today joined organisations from the youth, legal, human rights and Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander sectors to call on the ACT Government to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to at least 14 years old. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell, said: “ACTCOSS is […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today expressed dismay at the decision to reduce the JobSeeker supplement leaving thousands of Canberrans facing reductions in income. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell, said: “Since the end of last year, the number of people on JobSeeker and Youth Allowance has more than doubled in the ACT. From […]