Ozcare funded to maintain homeless services in Townsville

Ozcare Community Services will receive $72,209 in Queensland Government funding to continue providing vital services to people who are homeless in Townsville.

Communities Minister Warren Pitt said the one-off funding would enable Ozcare to maintain its services at Maria House (for homeless women and children) and at the Townsville Men’s Hostel (for homeless men) for six months.

Maria House provides accommodation for up to 18 women and children while the Townsville Men’s Hostel can house up to 52 men.

Mr Pitt said Ozcare currently received funding of $483,747 a year for three years to operate the two Townsville hostels as part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to reducing the number of people who were homeless.

“Ozcare Community Services has been operating in the far north for more than 20 years. It is the largest provider of Supported Accommodation Assistance Program-funded homelessness hostels in Queensland,” he said.

“Maria House and the Men’s Hostel provide vital community services to the men, women and children of Townsville who find themselves homeless and in need of emergency accommodation.”

Mr Pitt said the Queensland Government was committed to addressing the issue of homelessness and had launched the $235.52 million, four-year Responding to Homelessness strategy in 2005.

“This strategy is a whole-of-government approach, encompassing health, accommodation and safety issues faced by people who are homeless,” he said.

“The Department of Communities has also committed an extra $56.45 million over four years to boost responses to homelessness and public intoxication issues.”

Media contact: Peter Nibbs 3235 4280