About us
National Shelter is a peak nongovernment organization that aims to improve housing access, affordability, appropriateness, safety and security for people who are on low-incomes, or who face disadvantage in the housing system. National Shelter works towards this goal by influencing government policy and action, and by raising public awareness about housing issues. It has been in operation since 1976.
The aim of National Shelter is the realization of a housing system which ensures that every person has access to affordable, appropriate, safe and secure housing;housing provision is free from discrimination; and housing provision enhances people's health, dignity and life opportunities.
National Shelter puts forward several fundamental principles for a national housing policy that would ensure the right housing is available at the right cost in the right place at the right time. These principles are:
- Housing is affordable — people should not be left in poverty after they have met their housing costs.
- Housing is adequate — everybody is entitled to housing that meets basic standards of decency and their own basic needs.
- Housing is secure — people should not live under threat of loss of home and shelter. It is from a secure base that people are enabled to form constructive relationships, grow families and seek employment and community engagement.
- Housing is accessible — people should be informed about available housing options and access to these should be free from discrimination.
- Housing is in the right place — housing should be located close to services and support networks, to job opportunities and to social and leisure activities.
Housing should encourage inclusion of people in community life.
- Housing meets people's lifecycle needs — people have different housing
needs at different stages of their lives, and housing should be available to
match these changing needs.
Members
National Shelter comprises representatives of state/territory
Shelters from all states and territories except Victoria,
and representatives of a number of national nongovernment
organizations representing particular nonprofit housing
sectors.
The state/territory Shelter organizations are:
The member national organizations are:
National Shelter is a democratic organization operating under a constitution
determined by its members. You can get a copy of the constitution here: download (pdf
~70 kb). National Shelter is incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory
(registration number A01363).
The Executive Committee is:
- Chairperson — Adrian Pisarski (Queensland Shelter)
- Vice Chairperson — Mary Perkins (Shelter NSW)
- Secretary — Toni Vine Bromley (NT Shelter)
- Treasurer and Convener — Gary Wilson (Shelter SA)
Contacts
National Shelter does not have an office. You can contact us through the Executive
Committee or through your state/territory Shelter.
Enquiries:
- Media — Adrian Pisarski, Chairperson, phone (07) 3831 5900,
mobile 0417 975 270
- Accounts — Gary Wilson, Treasurer, email gary[at]sheltersa.asn.au
- Website — email web[at]shelter.org.au
- Other matters — contact your state/territory Shelter office
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