The Minister for Housing, David Borger, today announced $100,000 in State Government funding for the Parramatta Mission, a community emergency accommodation provider.

Mr Borger said it was vital to support emergency accommodation services, especially in these challenging economic times.

“In 2006/07 9,080 households were provided with temporary accommodation in NSW. “This jumped to 13,054 households in 2008/09,” he said. “It’s hard to imagine anything worse than not having a place to call home – sleeping rough night after night.

“The NSW Government’s $100,000 donation will support children, youth, women and men who are facing crisis.

Parramatta Mission General Manager, Chris Bertinshaw said that through Parramatta Mission’s various accommodation services approximately 300 people are housed every day.

“As a charity organisation, we are delighted to receive such a generous donation from our State Government,” he said. “These funds will support almost 80 women and 125 accompanying children who seek refuge from domestic violence each year.

“Money will also be allocated to the Youth Crisis Refuge to assist the 435 young people.

“Parramatta Mission is dedicated to supporting those in our community who are the most disadvantaged, the most vulnerable and those with the greatest need.

“Both the NSW Government and the Commonwealth have pledged to spend an extra $200 million over four years to address homelessness.

Premier Nathan Rees said over the next three years the NSW Government is investing $1 billion to deliver an extra 3,000 homes.

“This is on top of the Federal Government’s commitment to deliver around 6,000 social housing homes in NSW as part of their Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.

“That’s an extra 9,000 homes for more than 14,000 of our State’s most needy,” Mr Rees said.

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