This parliamentary question seeks data on public housing transfer applications in Western Australia, specifically focusing on applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tenants between 2011 and 2021. The answer provides data from 2017-18 onwards, citing system changes and a person-centred approach to tenancy management.

AnsweredQoN 1071Legislative Council
Asked
25 October 2022
Portfolio
Housing; Lands; Homelessness; Local Government

QuestionView source ↗

Please provide the following details for the years 2011-2021, or if only available from
2018: (a) the number of applications from tenant for a transfer; and (b) the number of tenants in (a), who have disclosed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
29 November 2022
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Housing; Lands; Homelessness; Local Government
Response time
9 days
(a)-(b)
Since 2017-18, the Department of Communities has prioritised a person-centred approach to sustaining tenancies. The data below reflects changes in priorities such as supporting re-unification of children and families, supporting victims of domestic violence to move for safety reasons, supporting tenants with cultural obligations and policy changes to support tenants through challenges by seeking more appropriate accommodation for their individual circumstances.
It is important to note that when applying, the ATSI field is not a mandatory option for tenants to indicate as to whether they identify as ATSI. Applicants for public housing in WA are not required to identify their ethnicity when applying for housing assistance or transfer.
Historically, reportable data before system changes in 2017-18 were recorded at a tenancy and application level, if at all, with a low confidence level. Subsequently, comparative data prior to June 2018 is not available.
Public Housing Priority Transfer Applications
Financial Year
Number of Active Applications
Number of Active Applications – Where a Householder Identifies as ATSI
2017-18
1,365
441
2018-19
1,459
488
2019-20
1,647
598
2020-21
2,044
854

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