❓ Hon Steve Martin's QoN addresses public housing wait times in WA, seeking regional and state-wide data. The response provides wait time statistics and applicant numbers, highlighting factors influencing wait times and using median figures for accuracy.
AnsweredQoN 1547Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the public housing wait times, and I ask: (a) what is the average wait time to access public housing by region as at 30 July 2023; (b) what is the average wait time for the public housing priority waitlist by region as at 30 July 2023; (c) please provide the state-wide figure for (a) and (b); (d) how many individuals and applications are on the public housing waitlist as at 17 August 2023; and (e) how many individuals and applications are on the priority public housing waitlist as at 17 August 2023?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 September 2023
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
7 days
(a) – (e)
It should be noted that the majority of applicants for public housing have access to some form of accommodation.
Factors that may contribute to longer wait times for individual applicants include circumstances where:
• they have sourced appropriate accommodation yet remain eligible for public housing;
• they have declined offered properties (which can occur multiple times);
• they require specific housing features;
• the type of accommodation they require is limited in their preference zone;
• they spend periods of time incarcerated;
• they have advised of changes in preference zone, family composition and housing need; or
• there are specific medical considerations, a requirement to be in close proximity to support networks and cultural sensitivities.
Applicants with higher than average wait times are generally outliers that have access to housing while remaining eligible for public housing. Individual applicants that have unique and complex housing requirements may skew the average wait turn numbers, especially in regional areas where there is a lower turnover of properties.
Median wait turn times are a more accurate reflection of wait times. The Department of Communities reports on public housing statistics based on point in time data captured as at the end of every month.
Public Housing Wait Times by Region, as at 31 July 2023
Region
Wait Turn & Priority
Wait Turn & Priority
Priority ONLY
Priority ONLY
Average in Weeks
Median in Weeks
Average in Weeks
Median in Weeks
North Metro
135
105
75
67
South Metro
134
106
73
69
Great Southern
109
73
60
42
Southwest
150
123
52
38
Goldfields
101
67
56
41
Midwest/Gascoyne
133
109
65
61
Pilbara
139
131
101
99
West Kimberley
226
191
118
90
Wheatbelt
78
64
47
31
East Kimberley
154
140
121
112
Public Housing Wait List b y Region as at 31 July 2023
Preference Region
Wait Turn
Priority
Applications
Applicants
Applications
Applicants
North Metro
5,790
10,298
1,479
2,744
South Metro
7,390
13,228
1,869
3,686
Great Southern
577
987
193
384
Southwest
1,250
1,979
249
471
Goldfields
588
1,048
127
274
Midwest/Gascoyne
1,064
2,072
188
406
Pilbara
641
1,273
221
518
West Kimberley
899
1,525
184
381
Wheatbelt
409
836
136
316
East Kimberley
376
697
122
267
· The number of Wait Turn Applications includes Priority Applications.
It should be noted that the majority of applicants for public housing have access to some form of accommodation.
Factors that may contribute to longer wait times for individual applicants include circumstances where:
• they have sourced appropriate accommodation yet remain eligible for public housing;
• they have declined offered properties (which can occur multiple times);
• they require specific housing features;
• the type of accommodation they require is limited in their preference zone;
• they spend periods of time incarcerated;
• they have advised of changes in preference zone, family composition and housing need; or
• there are specific medical considerations, a requirement to be in close proximity to support networks and cultural sensitivities.
Applicants with higher than average wait times are generally outliers that have access to housing while remaining eligible for public housing. Individual applicants that have unique and complex housing requirements may skew the average wait turn numbers, especially in regional areas where there is a lower turnover of properties.
Median wait turn times are a more accurate reflection of wait times. The Department of Communities reports on public housing statistics based on point in time data captured as at the end of every month.
Public Housing Wait Times by Region, as at 31 July 2023
Region
Wait Turn & Priority
Wait Turn & Priority
Priority ONLY
Priority ONLY
Average in Weeks
Median in Weeks
Average in Weeks
Median in Weeks
North Metro
135
105
75
67
South Metro
134
106
73
69
Great Southern
109
73
60
42
Southwest
150
123
52
38
Goldfields
101
67
56
41
Midwest/Gascoyne
133
109
65
61
Pilbara
139
131
101
99
West Kimberley
226
191
118
90
Wheatbelt
78
64
47
31
East Kimberley
154
140
121
112
Public Housing Wait List b y Region as at 31 July 2023
Preference Region
Wait Turn
Priority
Applications
Applicants
Applications
Applicants
North Metro
5,790
10,298
1,479
2,744
South Metro
7,390
13,228
1,869
3,686
Great Southern
577
987
193
384
Southwest
1,250
1,979
249
471
Goldfields
588
1,048
127
274
Midwest/Gascoyne
1,064
2,072
188
406
Pilbara
641
1,273
221
518
West Kimberley
899
1,525
184
381
Wheatbelt
409
836
136
316
East Kimberley
376
697
122
267
· The number of Wait Turn Applications includes Priority Applications.
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