The NSW Women's Refuge Resource Centre is campaigning for increased funding for Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) services in line with the findings of the national evaluation of SAAP IV. 

The aim of SAAP, the major government response to homelessness in Australia, is to provide transitional supported accommodation and related support services to assist people who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness. This includes women and children who are homeless as a result of domestic violence. Recent figures show the domestic violence is the single most prevalent cause for women and children accessing homeless assistance services in Australia.

This campaign is jointly run by the three NSW homelessness peaks (HomelessnessNSW.ACT, Youth Accommodation Assistance Inc. and us) and the Council of Social Service of New South Wales (NCOSS). Background information can also be found on NCOSS website.

In total we are seeking additional Commonwealth funding of less than $23 million a year. This is equivalent to 0.2% of the projected Federal budget surplus of $11.5 billion.

The attached campaign tools include:

•  a template letter for services to write to your Federal MP. Feel free to modify it if you wish. In this letter "transitional housing" is in red to remind refuges that do not provide this service to delete these words.

• a template letters for individuals to write to their Federal MP. Feel free to modify and to pass it on to your colleagues, friends and family members.

• A campaign kit, which includes media contacts, useful statistics and rebuttal of myths about SAAP. This information can assist you if you meet your Federal member to discuss SAAP funding, and also to undertake a local campaign or media work.

• an image to be used for the campaign.