The Wire

Changes to the Federal government’s welfare-to-work policies will lead to a dramatic increase in the numbers of homeless people, according to a lobby group. The new policies, that would come into effect on July 1st, puts pressure on the unemployed to actively search for a job, Otherwise, they would loose welfare payments for 8 weeks. Only those considered as ‘exceptionally vulnerable”, will be exempt from the rules. Homeless people are not under this list, and will have to compete in the work force just like anyone else. Julie McKay, Media officer at the Australian Federation of Homelessness Organizations, says the changes put homeless people at a greater disadvantage.