❓ Ms. Freeman asks about the government's 10-year homelessness strategy. The Minister responds by outlining the strategy's development, consultation process, and commitment to a housing-first approach, emphasizing collaboration and evidence-based interventions.
AnsweredQoN 898Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY
898. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Minister for Community Services:
I am glad I am awake!
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to working with the community services sector
to address homelessness and support at-risk Western Australians.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how the 10-year homelessness strategy will guide a
whole-of-government effort in supporting those experiencing homelessness?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house on whether such a long-term strategy has been
developed in Western Australia before now?
898. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Minister for Community Services:
I am glad I am awake!
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to working with the community services sector
to address homelessness and support at-risk Western Australians.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how the 10-year homelessness strategy will guide a
whole-of-government effort in supporting those experiencing homelessness?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house on whether such a long-term strategy has been
developed in Western Australia before now?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question.
I know that this is an issue that affects her electorate and about which she
has been an active advocate for an effective response by government.
(1)–(2) Homelessness
has also affected my community very acutely. We see street-present people every
day in my neighbourhood and around my electorate office but, of course, that is
just one manifestation of homelessness. People throughout the state are couch
surfing and sleeping in cars. People in regional and remote areas are affected
by homelessness as well. We need to make sure that we are providing services to
and in response to them.
Essential to any approach to
homelessness is an understanding that there but for the grace of God. At any time
in our lives we, or more likely people we know in our community or family
members, could be affected by homelessness because of circumstances beyond
their control. Homelessness is affected by complex issues such as family
breakdowns, mental illness, domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse and
employment issues. We need to make sure an understanding of the causes of
homelessness and the dignity of the individuals affected is at the centre of
our response. We must put the needs of those people first in our approach this
issue. Many good services throughout the metropolitan area and regional centres are dealing with the immediate needs of
homelessness and homeless people. They are doing a fantastic job.
However, we need a long-term strategy
to really tackle this issue and lower the number of people who are homeless
throughout the state on any one night, which is estimated at 9 000. We have
embarked on a 10-year homelessness strategy in partnership with the community
services sector. We have just finished a range of consultations around the
state with community members, service providers and people who have experienced
homelessness. To better understand the experiences of community members,
homeless people and the services that are tackling this issue, we had three
consultations in the metro area and consultations
in eight regional centres: Broome, Kununurra, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Karratha,
Port Hedland, Bunbury and Albany. About 300 people attended the sessions
around the state.
We are not providing a report for the
sake of it. This is not a plan to have a plan. This is a strategic approach.
Other jurisdictions have made inroads into dealing with homelessness. Members
may have heard me speak about this before, but I am very supportive of a housing-first
approach then linking services with those people depending on what they need
and keeping those services with them for as long as they need that support.
With the 50 Lives 50 Homes project we saw that with a collaborative approach—when
government works with the community sector in all its forms and the community
itself—that uses an evidence-based approach to track the effectiveness
of our interventions over time, we can start to have a better idea about what
is working and apply those at a larger scale. If our approaches are not
working, we can make the decision to pull back and apply resources where they
need to be applied. That is the work that we are doing with the strategy, in
concert with the community services sector. I am not aware that any government has
done that before. Taking a strategic approach certainly was not part of the
previous government's approach to this very stubborn issue in our
community. At the heart of our response is compassion, an understanding of
homeless people and a commitment to understand their needs and to work with
them for as long as it takes so that they can lead happy, healthy and stable
lives.
I know that this is an issue that affects her electorate and about which she
has been an active advocate for an effective response by government.
(1)–(2) Homelessness
has also affected my community very acutely. We see street-present people every
day in my neighbourhood and around my electorate office but, of course, that is
just one manifestation of homelessness. People throughout the state are couch
surfing and sleeping in cars. People in regional and remote areas are affected
by homelessness as well. We need to make sure that we are providing services to
and in response to them.
Essential to any approach to
homelessness is an understanding that there but for the grace of God. At any time
in our lives we, or more likely people we know in our community or family
members, could be affected by homelessness because of circumstances beyond
their control. Homelessness is affected by complex issues such as family
breakdowns, mental illness, domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse and
employment issues. We need to make sure an understanding of the causes of
homelessness and the dignity of the individuals affected is at the centre of
our response. We must put the needs of those people first in our approach this
issue. Many good services throughout the metropolitan area and regional centres are dealing with the immediate needs of
homelessness and homeless people. They are doing a fantastic job.
However, we need a long-term strategy
to really tackle this issue and lower the number of people who are homeless
throughout the state on any one night, which is estimated at 9 000. We have
embarked on a 10-year homelessness strategy in partnership with the community
services sector. We have just finished a range of consultations around the
state with community members, service providers and people who have experienced
homelessness. To better understand the experiences of community members,
homeless people and the services that are tackling this issue, we had three
consultations in the metro area and consultations
in eight regional centres: Broome, Kununurra, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Karratha,
Port Hedland, Bunbury and Albany. About 300 people attended the sessions
around the state.
We are not providing a report for the
sake of it. This is not a plan to have a plan. This is a strategic approach.
Other jurisdictions have made inroads into dealing with homelessness. Members
may have heard me speak about this before, but I am very supportive of a housing-first
approach then linking services with those people depending on what they need
and keeping those services with them for as long as they need that support.
With the 50 Lives 50 Homes project we saw that with a collaborative approach—when
government works with the community sector in all its forms and the community
itself—that uses an evidence-based approach to track the effectiveness
of our interventions over time, we can start to have a better idea about what
is working and apply those at a larger scale. If our approaches are not
working, we can make the decision to pull back and apply resources where they
need to be applied. That is the work that we are doing with the strategy, in
concert with the community services sector. I am not aware that any government has
done that before. Taking a strategic approach certainly was not part of the
previous government's approach to this very stubborn issue in our
community. At the heart of our response is compassion, an understanding of
homeless people and a commitment to understand their needs and to work with
them for as long as it takes so that they can lead happy, healthy and stable
lives.
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