A LAUNCESTON service that helps families at risk of homelessness will close next month after Anglicare missed out on federal government funding.
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The organisation will also be forced to close a statewide service for families affected by alcohol and drugs, as well as a North-West mental health support service.
Other Tasmanian organisations including Mission Australia, UnitingCare and Colony 47 have missed out on new funds after the federal government cut grants programs due to ‘‘budget considerations’’.
Mission Australia state director Noel Mundy said the organisation had missed out on grants for a new child and family service for at-risk communities in Launceston, Smithton and Risdon Vale.
‘‘My understanding is most people got very, very little, if anything,’’ Mr Mundy said.
Colony 47 chief executive Therese Taylor said plans to expand to Northern Tasmania had been hindered after the organisation also missed out on funds.
Ms Taylor said the organisation had applied for nine grants and missed out on seven, with three of those aiming to support families and mental health in the North.
UnitingCare Tasmania chief executive Lindy O’Neill said the organisation had been informed by the department that it was a preferred provider for emergency relief, but the organisation hadn’t yet learned what funding would be offered.
Ms O’Neill said the organisation also applied for funding for services they hadn’t previously delivered, and was ‘‘understandably disappointed’’ that it was unsuccessful.
Tasmanian Council of Social Service chief executive Tony Reidy said it wasn’t yet clear if Anglicare’s defunded programs had been cut altogether or would be offered by another provider.
‘‘TasCoss at the moment is actually canvassing the community sector to try and get a handle on the depth and breadth of the defunding or the failure to fund a range of essential community programs,’’ Mr Reidy said.
‘‘It’s a period of enormous uncertainty.’’
Social Services Minister Scott Morrison said the department received more than 5500 applications for grants worth more than $3.9 billion, with about $800 million in grants funding available when the grants round was announced.
‘‘Some 700 organisations will be funded to do this work in the community,’’ Mr Morrison said.
