WESTERN Australia’s Cook Government will put more than $92 million towards tackling homelessness, with more than 120 engagement hubs and accommodation, outreach, and specialist support services across the state to receive a share of the funding.
The $92.2 million investment will fall under the 2024-25 budget, and with homelessness services to receive a share of $70.2 million to continue service delivery and meet demand.
A further $15.7 million has been allocated to expand Housing First Support Services (HFSS), part of the state’s All Paths Lead to a Home: Western Australia’s 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020-2030.
The HFSS has supported rough sleepers moving into permanent accommodation and providing them with the case management and supports they need to sustain their tenancies.
“This additional $92.2 million in funding will help to continue the vital work of our service providers, who play an integral role in assisting people who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness,” said Homelessness Minister John Carey.
The $15.7 million for expanding HFSS includes $6.7 million to support an expansion of the HFSS in the metropolitan area, $9 million to expand the HFSS in Geraldton, establish it in Albany and undertake initial planning and service design of HFSS in Kalgoorlie, and to support the rollout of the Regional Supportive Landlord Model.
Geraldton and Mandurah are two of three regions across Australia which have seen a measurable reduction in rough sleeping as part of the Advance to Zero Campaign, the government said. The government last week month up to $50 million in grants will be made available for registered community housing providers in Western Australia under a process aimed at boosting regional social and community housing supply.
An additional $6.3 million will be provided to significantly expand Entrypoint and other homelessness referral services to ensure that vulnerable Western Australians can be connected with services and accommodation available.
The new funding is in addition to the $47.6 million announced by the state government in January for the continuation of 15 critical homelessness services and boost service capacity.
The Western Australian government is investing $2.6 billion in social housing and homelessness measures to deliver around 4,000 social dwellings, and undertake refurbishments and maintenance on many thousands more. The government says it has so far delivered more than 2,000 social homes, with a further 1,000 social homes under contract or construction.
The Cook Government, through the state’s Lotteries Commission, last week announced $5.3 million would go to supporting not-for-profit Indigo Junction’s Youth Crisis and Transitional Housing development project and its Koolkuna Women’s Shelter, aimed at supporting young people experiencing homelessness and victim-survivors escaping family and domestic violence.
