- More than $5 million from the Cook Government's Social Housing Investment Fund invested in social housing boost for Geraldton
- Additional social homes to provide accommodation for people experiencing homelessness or sleeping rough
Building on the success of the Cook Labor Government's Supportive Landlord Model, Djuripiny Mia, the Cook Government is investing $5.2 million in new funding to boost the number of social homes in Geraldton and support people who are sleeping rough.
More social homes will be added in Geraldton and will be managed by Community Housing Organisations through a Supportive Landlord Model (SLM) approach.
The model is being successfully piloted under a landmark partnership with a community housing provider to deliver 100 social homes across Perth, Peel, and Bunbury. Since its inception, the program has delivered 75 social homes, and is accommodating more than 110 people who were experiencing chronic rough sleeping.
The model aligns with the Housing First Approach, which prioritises getting vulnerable people into permanent housing and then focusing on the necessary support services.
In December 2023, Geraldton became the third Australian community to achieve a measurable reduction in street homelessness as part of the Advance to Zero campaign, a national initiative of more than 30 communities working to address homelessness.
Geraldton was the second Western Australian community to achieve a measurable reduction in rough sleeping homelessness this year, with the Mandurah Zero Project also reaching the milestone in August.
The $5.2 million commitment is part of the State Government's $49 million investment to expand the successful model to more regions across Western Australia, with a Registration of Interest calling for interested Community Housing Organisations recently held.
As stated by Housing Minister John Carey:
"This latest funding injection through the Mid-Year Review will help the Cook Government expand our successful supportive landlord model to more regions and support vulnerable individuals into long-term housing with wraparound support services.
"Providing a home to the most vulnerable members of our community - who may be experiencing rough sleeping - can transform their lives.
"Our Government is investing a record $2.6 billion in housing and homelessness measures - including the delivery of around 4,000 social dwellings and refurbishments and maintenance to many thousands more.
"In line with the Housing First Approach, the Cook Government is investing in a range of homeless accommodation options including the Supportive Landlord Model - which is delivering great outcomes through our partnership with Housing Choices in the Djuripiny Mia program.
"Djuripiny Mia is already supporting more than 110 people across more than 70 properties."
As stated by Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton:
"This is a fantastic outcome for the Geraldton community, with a $5 million boost to add more social homes to support the most vulnerable members of our community.
"Along with the Spalding Renewal Project and major refurbishments being undertaken to the local housing stock, these new social homes will be a welcome addition in Geraldton.
"Importantly, a local Community Housing Organisation will also provide person centred tenancy management, working alongside extensive wraparound and culturally appropriate supports to ensure they can maintain their tenancies."
As stated by Australian Alliance to End Homelessness chief executive officer David Pearson:
"We welcome the State Government's investment of more than $5 million to provide more housing in Geraldton for those who may be experiencing homelessness.
"In Geraldton, through the important relationships and vital work undertaken by the WA Alliance to End Homelessness and the community support services sector, we've achieved a measurable reduction in homelessness in Geraldton and in Mandurah.
"The Geraldton team credits reaching this important milestone to a variety of efforts, including having a designated Housing First approach and building trust and rapport with people experiencing homelessness over time and being able to link them in with support services such as mental health, Men's Hub, emergency relief, and assertive outreach sessions.
"Maintaining a strong relationship with the State Government, through the Department of Communities, has also been an integral part of the Geraldton Zero Project's success."
