❓ The Minister outlines the government's investment in homelessness services, particularly the first Common Ground facility in East Perth, and challenges the opposition to show genuine support. The response details funding allocations, initiatives like Housing First, and future plans for a second Common Ground facility.
AnsweredQoN 519Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOMELESSNESS —
SERVICES
519. Mr
J.N. CAREY to the Minister for Community Services:
I refer to the state Labor
government's $5.5 billion recovery plan, which includes investment in
measures that support the most vulnerable Western Australians. Can the minister
outline to the house what this government's investment in the state's
first common ground facility in East Perth will mean to those Western Australians
who are experiencing homelessness; and advise the house how this will build on
the state Labor government's significant investment in homelessness
services?
SERVICES
519. Mr
J.N. CAREY to the Minister for Community Services:
I refer to the state Labor
government's $5.5 billion recovery plan, which includes investment in
measures that support the most vulnerable Western Australians. Can the minister
outline to the house what this government's investment in the state's
first common ground facility in East Perth will mean to those Western Australians
who are experiencing homelessness; and advise the house how this will build on
the state Labor government's significant investment in homelessness
services?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Perth not
only for his interest in addressing homelessness, but also for a lot of the
hard work he has put in to draw together City of Perth stakeholders, businesses
and community sector organisations in his electorate. I was pleased to be with
the member for Perth and Commissioner Gaye McMath of the City of Perth when it
was announced that we had secured the first location for a common ground in
Perth. People might be aware that many other capital cities in the country have
a common ground; some have two. I think Canberra is on its way to having its
second common ground. When we worked on a strategy to address homelessness, we
took time to sit down with stakeholders, particularly community sector
organisations, researchers and people with lived experience, to understand what an evidence-based strategic approach to
homelessness would be. When we announced the strategy, we also announced
an amount of $72 million, part of which would be spent on building two common
ground facilities. We have now announced the location for that in Perth. It
will be on the corner of Hill and Wellington Streets, across from Wellington
Square and the Royal Perth Hospital precinct. I was very pleased to see the
positive response across the community for that location as well as for the
concept of the common ground— that is,
at least 70 self-contained units, half of which will be for people who are
street present, to give people the support that they need. In addition,
there is the Housing First Homelessness Initiative, which, again, is an
evidence-based approach. With the advent of COVID-19, we started to fast-track
the rollout of that approach by awarding contracts and making sure that case
workers could get out there on the ground and link up with people who need
supports. Part of the allocation of that money will also be for private rental
subsidies.
We
are also working with the Minister for Housing on a $150 million housing
investment package and a $319 million social housing economic recovery
package. That is a big investment in public housing, social housing and
affordable housing that will make sure that there is more stock out there for
those people. That is really important. Finally, there will be an allocation of
$6.8 million. The Premier has commented a few times that sometimes these
numbers can just roll off the tongue, but these important on-the-ground
resources will grow community sector organisations to support those who are
homeless.
We said that there will be two
common grounds. Now that we have announced the site for the first common ground
in Perth, we know that there will be a positive development once we get the
build. We have done planning, communication and consultation with the local
community. Interestingly, the second location is still to be decided. We said
that we will develop and build it in broader metropolitan Perth. I now have an
options paper from the Department of Communities, which has shortlisted three
local government areas for the second common ground. It will be an interesting
test to see what these local communities think of having a common ground in
their vicinity.
I think it will also be a test for
the opposition to finally step up and show what could be its real support for
people who are homeless and vulnerable in their community. So far, the opposition
has been quick to label people, point the finger of blame and chase headlines
for political purposes when it comes to homelessness. I am happy to announce
that the shortlist includes three local government areas. There is the City of
Mandurah. I know that the member for Mandurah as well as the local government
there supports this and understands that there is a vulnerable cohort in that
area. There is the City of Fremantle. I certainly can say, hand on heart, that
our community recognises that there is a need and supports a common ground. The
other is the City of Stirling. A mix of state seats are represented in the City
of Stirling, so it will be interesting to see whether the Leader of the
Opposition supports a common ground in her area—if she is listening to
the answer to this question. It will also be interesting to see whether the
member for Carine supports a common ground in his electorate. Let us see
whether they will step up and let us know whether they really support the
vulnerable in our community. I guess we will have to wait and see, but I am not
holding my breath.
The SPEAKER : Members, the
lights that the member for Perth damaged cannot be fixed today, so we will be a
little bit in the dark for the rest of the day.
only for his interest in addressing homelessness, but also for a lot of the
hard work he has put in to draw together City of Perth stakeholders, businesses
and community sector organisations in his electorate. I was pleased to be with
the member for Perth and Commissioner Gaye McMath of the City of Perth when it
was announced that we had secured the first location for a common ground in
Perth. People might be aware that many other capital cities in the country have
a common ground; some have two. I think Canberra is on its way to having its
second common ground. When we worked on a strategy to address homelessness, we
took time to sit down with stakeholders, particularly community sector
organisations, researchers and people with lived experience, to understand what an evidence-based strategic approach to
homelessness would be. When we announced the strategy, we also announced
an amount of $72 million, part of which would be spent on building two common
ground facilities. We have now announced the location for that in Perth. It
will be on the corner of Hill and Wellington Streets, across from Wellington
Square and the Royal Perth Hospital precinct. I was very pleased to see the
positive response across the community for that location as well as for the
concept of the common ground— that is,
at least 70 self-contained units, half of which will be for people who are
street present, to give people the support that they need. In addition,
there is the Housing First Homelessness Initiative, which, again, is an
evidence-based approach. With the advent of COVID-19, we started to fast-track
the rollout of that approach by awarding contracts and making sure that case
workers could get out there on the ground and link up with people who need
supports. Part of the allocation of that money will also be for private rental
subsidies.
We
are also working with the Minister for Housing on a $150 million housing
investment package and a $319 million social housing economic recovery
package. That is a big investment in public housing, social housing and
affordable housing that will make sure that there is more stock out there for
those people. That is really important. Finally, there will be an allocation of
$6.8 million. The Premier has commented a few times that sometimes these
numbers can just roll off the tongue, but these important on-the-ground
resources will grow community sector organisations to support those who are
homeless.
We said that there will be two
common grounds. Now that we have announced the site for the first common ground
in Perth, we know that there will be a positive development once we get the
build. We have done planning, communication and consultation with the local
community. Interestingly, the second location is still to be decided. We said
that we will develop and build it in broader metropolitan Perth. I now have an
options paper from the Department of Communities, which has shortlisted three
local government areas for the second common ground. It will be an interesting
test to see what these local communities think of having a common ground in
their vicinity.
I think it will also be a test for
the opposition to finally step up and show what could be its real support for
people who are homeless and vulnerable in their community. So far, the opposition
has been quick to label people, point the finger of blame and chase headlines
for political purposes when it comes to homelessness. I am happy to announce
that the shortlist includes three local government areas. There is the City of
Mandurah. I know that the member for Mandurah as well as the local government
there supports this and understands that there is a vulnerable cohort in that
area. There is the City of Fremantle. I certainly can say, hand on heart, that
our community recognises that there is a need and supports a common ground. The
other is the City of Stirling. A mix of state seats are represented in the City
of Stirling, so it will be interesting to see whether the Leader of the
Opposition supports a common ground in her area—if she is listening to
the answer to this question. It will also be interesting to see whether the
member for Carine supports a common ground in his electorate. Let us see
whether they will step up and let us know whether they really support the
vulnerable in our community. I guess we will have to wait and see, but I am not
holding my breath.
The SPEAKER : Members, the
lights that the member for Perth damaged cannot be fixed today, so we will be a
little bit in the dark for the rest of the day.
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