❓ Dr. Pettitt asks about the oldest applicants on public housing waitlists. The Minister provides information on the oldest cases, citing applicant circumstances and policy reasons for long wait times, rather than providing the specific date requested for all applicants.
AnsweredQoN 1726Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the wait-turn and priority public housing wait lists, and ask, as of the end of September 2023, on what date did the applicant who has
been waiting the longest on each wait list initially join the wait list?
been waiting the longest on each wait list initially join the wait list?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
28 November 2023
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
7 days
This information is not reported as a matter of course and requires a significant amount of frontline resources, including a manual review of individual files.
It should be noted that most applicants have access to some form of accommodation. Those with longer than average wait times generally reflect their individual circumstances rather than the experience of the wider population. Various factors may contribute to longer wait times for applicants such as where applicants have sourced appropriate accommodation yet remain eligible for public housing, where applicants have declined offered properties (which can occur multiple times), applicants who require specific housing features, applicants who spend periods incarcerated, and changes in preference zone, family composition or housing need. Additional considerations include medical needs, proximity to support networks, and cultural sensitivities.
Where such factors affect an applicant and they are unable to accept a property, the property will be offered to the next eligible applicant.
The earliest registration date for an applicant on the public housing wait list state-wide was in January 2005 and is currently situated in private rental accommodation, having rejected multiple offers of public housing. They remain eligible for public housing and have changed their preference zone several times.
The earliest registration date for an applicant on the priority wait list state-wide was in May 2014. Despite a lack of engagement with the Department over some years, a discretionary decision has been made to retain the listing. They remain eligible for public housing and have changed their preference zone several times.
It should be noted that most applicants have access to some form of accommodation. Those with longer than average wait times generally reflect their individual circumstances rather than the experience of the wider population. Various factors may contribute to longer wait times for applicants such as where applicants have sourced appropriate accommodation yet remain eligible for public housing, where applicants have declined offered properties (which can occur multiple times), applicants who require specific housing features, applicants who spend periods incarcerated, and changes in preference zone, family composition or housing need. Additional considerations include medical needs, proximity to support networks, and cultural sensitivities.
Where such factors affect an applicant and they are unable to accept a property, the property will be offered to the next eligible applicant.
The earliest registration date for an applicant on the public housing wait list state-wide was in January 2005 and is currently situated in private rental accommodation, having rejected multiple offers of public housing. They remain eligible for public housing and have changed their preference zone several times.
The earliest registration date for an applicant on the priority wait list state-wide was in May 2014. Despite a lack of engagement with the Department over some years, a discretionary decision has been made to retain the listing. They remain eligible for public housing and have changed their preference zone several times.
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