FED:Boost housing, welfare body says

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2010
FED:Boost housing, welfare body says

Peak community sector body ACOSS says low-income Australians are battling to be heard
as the election campaign rolls on.

In its election platform .. ACOSS wants to see a housing growth fund established to
go towards ongoing construction .. and easing the shortage of almost half-a-million affordable
homes.

Chief executive CASSANDRA GOLDIE says with rents rising dramatically over the past
five years .. renters on income support payments or low wages are battling to make ends
meet.

ACOSS wants rent assistance to be boosted to 30 per cent .. and a commitment to halve
homelessness by 2020.

The organisation says not only should welfare payments be based on the minimum cost
of living .. but the entire social security system should be overhauled to close the gap
between different types of payments.

To address the gulf .. ACOSS is calling for the Newstart Allowance to be upped by 45-dollars
a week.

AAP RTV cj/ajw/

KEYWORD: POLL10 WELFARE (CANBERRA)

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