- Today marks the start of 'Homelessness Week 2023' which runs nationally from 7-13 August
- Cook Government is investing a record $2.6 billion in social housing and homelessness measures over four years
- Cook Government prioritising delivery of a Housing First Approach
- Planning reforms being progressed to make it easier for community housing providers to navigate the development application process to deliver affordable and social housing
Today marks the start of 'Homelessness Week 2023', an annual campaign held nationally between August 7-13, aimed at raising awareness and support for people impacted by homelessness.
This year's national theme is 'It's time to end homelessness' which highlights the collective actions needed by the community, together with all levels of Government and the community services sector, to help break the cycle of homelessness.
The Cook Government is investing a record $2.6 billion in housing and homelessness measures over four years, which has already added more than 1,300 social homes, with a further 1,100 social homes currently under contract or construction throughout Western Australia.
The State Government set a clear target to deliver 1,300 social homes in the first two years of this investment, and this was delivered, in the face of the most heated construction market in the State's history.
The Minister for Planning; Housing; and Homelessness is also set to introduce planning reforms to cut red tape to make it easier for community housing providers to deliver social and affordable housing projects, through changes to the development application process.
There will be regulatory changes to the Development Assessment Panel (DAP) system, cutting red tape and providing the ability for any community housing development, regardless of the size or value of the project, to opt to go straight to a DAP for determination.
Under the current DAP system, any development consisting of less than 10 grouped or multiple dwellings, is excluded from using this pathway.
State Government Homelessness reforms include:
- The Supportive Landlord Model (SLM) which will see 100 homes delivered in partnership with Housing Choices for rough sleepers across Perth, Peel and the South-West;
- Transformation of the former Murray Hotel will provide low barrier, supported accommodation for rough sleepers, run by St Vincent de Paul. The new facility complements current accommodation options in the Perth CBD for people who are sleeping rough, including Boorloo Bidee Mia in Wellington Street and Koort Boodja in Northbridge;
- Establishment of Rough Sleeper Coordination Groups at key locations; including Fremantle, Perth CBD, Geraldton, Bunbury, and Mandurah. These groups assess individual case management for rough sleepers at each location and bring all service providers together;
- Boosting coordinated outreach services and actively seeking to add more people to the By-Name List to ensure those in need are connected to relevant support services;
- Return-to-country support services to address these issues, including establishing the $2.2 million Country-Connect service, which aims to reduce instances of rough sleeping during medical treatment, for people travelling to Perth from the regions;
- Establishing new Aboriginal short-stay accommodation services in Perth, Geraldton and Kununurra to ensure safe, culturally-considered, and affordable short-term accommodation, is available to support Aboriginal visitors from regional and remote areas; and
- ongoing work towards the consolidation of multiple outreach services into a single service.
The innovative SLM, DjuripinyMia program, which launched in partnership with Housing Choices in late 2022, is delivering 100 homes across the Metro, Peel and Bunbury areas. To date, the SLM has added 58 properties, is supporting 55 individuals, and is helping change the lives of vulnerable people with access to intensive support.
The SLM approach is being expanded regionally with $49 million committed to deliver 100 homes in selected regional locations, to be managed by community housing providers together with support services.
The State Government recently announced St. Vincent de Paul WA Society Inc (Vinnies WA) will lead the management of the refurbished Murray Hotel in West Perth. The acquisition of Murray Hotel is another major boost to the State Government's homelessness reforms, and supports the successful outcomes already being achieved through the existing low-barrier service model, Boorloo Bidee Mia, run by the Wungening Aboriginal Corporation.
In June 2023, ADCO Construction Pty Ltd (ADCO) was awarded the tender to deliver the $70 million East Perth Common Ground project with site-works set to commence soon. The Common Ground model provides a mix of permanent housing options for people experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping or on low incomes, together with wraparound support services.
The State Government is committed to improving coordination and delivery of homelessness services, underpinned by effective implementation of All Paths Lead to Home: Western Australia's 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020-2030
As stated by Planning; Housing; and Homelessness Minister John Carey:
"As Planning; Lands; Housing; and Homelessness Minister, I'm using every lever I can to boost the delivery of social housing, including planning reforms that cut through red tape to assist the community housing sector.
"Our Government is making significant investments in housing and homelessness programs and reforms - with a record $2.6 billion in housing and homelessness measures over four years.
"This investment includes $225 million to support homelessness initiatives in this financial year alone, supporting more than 130 sector organisations, to deliver critical homelessness services across WA, in recognition of the vital role provided by community service groups.
"We've boosted outreach services and have extended the outreach Homeless Engagement Assessment and Response Team (HEART).
"HEART has expanded into Joondalup and through to Midland - and HEART is actively working to get more people on to the By-Name List to ensure they are connected with appropriate homelessness services.
"This is about collecting better and more accurate data to assist people who may be sleeping rough access relevant support services.
"We've also established Rough Sleeper Coordination Groups at key locations, including Fremantle, Perth CBD, Geraldton, Bunbury, and Mandurah.
"These groups assess individual case management for rough sleepers at each location and refer rough sleepers to support services that meet their individual needs.
"We're focussed on delivering an evidence-based Housing First Approach that provides suitable and culturally appropriate accommodation, with intensive wrap-around supports for the most vulnerable members of our community."
