Who: Dr Tessa Boyd- Caine, Deputy CEO ACOSS, and representatives of major charities and community welfare organisations

When: 10.30AM Monday July 1, 2013

Where: St Vincent de Paul Society Ozanam Learning Centre, Level 3, 99 Forbes St Woolloomooloo, Sydney.

ACOSS will today launch the results of the largest survey of Australia’s community services sector, revealing that frontline agencies are under enormous strain and unable to meet the growing demand for help.

The annual Australian Community Sector Survey of over 500 agencies shows that housing availability and affordability is the greatest unmet need for clients of welfare services, and nearly 70% of housing and homeless services report that they simply cannot meet demand.

Representatives from a number of community welfare agencies will address the media at the launch, along with several clients who will talk about their personal experience of hardship.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

NOTE TO EDITORS: Several clients of services will be available for interviews. Please advise your intention to attend.

Attendees
Tessa Boyd- Caine, Deputy CEO, Australian Council of Social Service
Matt Cleary, Executive Officer of Vincent de Paul Society Support Services
Tony Devlin, Territorial Consultant, Moneycare, The Salvation Army
Maree O’Halloran, President, National Welfare Rights Network
Carolyn Bond, Spokesperson, Community Law Australia
Reynato Reodica, Acting Executive Officer, Australian Youth Affairs Coalition
Gary Moore, CEO, Homelessness NSW