❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses homelessness due to high rents and housing shortages, and the government's preventative measures. The Minister outlines existing programs and funding initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 1061Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HOMELESSNESS
(1) How many people are known to be homeless due to record high rents and housing shortages? (2) What steps is the government taking to prevent the development of a homeless underclass in Perth? Hon KATE DOUST
(1) How many people are known to be homeless due to record high rents and housing shortages? (2) What steps is the government taking to prevent the development of a homeless underclass in Perth? Hon KATE DOUST
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The reasons for homelessness are complex. The member may refer to the 2001 Australian Bureau of Statistics census. (2) The government established the State Homelessness Taskforce in 2001. Based on the taskforce’s report, the government developed the state homelessness strategy and approved $32 million over four years to address homelessness issues. An independent review of the SHS was conducted by Estille and Associates at the beginning of this year. Initiatives established under the SHS are continuing to be funded. Examples of programs within the Department of Housing and Works that focus on addressing homelessness include the following: first, there is a bond assistance program, which provides an interest - free bond loan for people to access the private rental market - 9 445 loans were issued in 2005-06. Second, there is the Homeless Advisory Service, formerly the Homeless Helpline, which received 1 070 calls in 2005 - 06. Of that number, 774 callers were offered shelter or housing options, including referral to vacancies in crisis accommodation or referrals to Uniting Care West Homelink funded under the SHS to assist people to find private rental accommodation and bond assistance and loans for ingoing fees, tenancy and personal support. Third, there are private rental Aboriginal assistance loans, which is a pilot project to provide Aboriginal people with a loan to meet private rental arrears up to a maximum of six weeks’ rent subject to the client agreeing to undergo financial counselling. Fourth, there is community and public rental housing, by which the Department of Housing and Works has provided to various supported accommodation assistance program funded agencies 485 units of accommodation in Western Australia through the crisis accommodation program for the provision of housing to homeless individuals and families. In addition, the department is working with the Health Department of WA to deliver accommodation under the mental health housing strategy that targets the homeless with a mental illness. The department is very aware of the issue of housing affordability in WA and has had a significant building program over recent years to increase public housing stock. Community housing programs have provided 253 units of accommodation in 2003 - 04, 91 units of accommodation in 2004 - 05 and 288 units of accommodation in 2005 - 06 and 179 units of accommodation are programmed for 2006 - 07. Currently, the department has 34 791 units of accommodation throughout WA in addition to 4 275 units of accommodation provided through various community housing programs.
(2) What steps is the government taking to prevent the development of a homeless underclass in Perth? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The reasons for homelessness are complex. The member may refer to the 2001 Australian Bureau of Statistics census. (2) The government established the State Homelessness Taskforce in 2001. Based on the taskforce’s report, the government developed the state homelessness strategy and approved $32 million over four years to address homelessness issues. An independent review of the SHS was conducted by Estille and Associates at the beginning of this year. Initiatives established under the SHS are continuing to be funded. Examples of programs within the Department of Housing and Works that focus on addressing homelessness include the following: first, there is a bond assistance program, which provides an interest - free bond loan for people to access the private rental market - 9 445 loans were issued in 2005-06. Second, there is the Homeless Advisory Service, formerly the Homeless Helpline, which received 1 070 calls in 2005 - 06. Of that number, 774 callers were offered shelter or housing options, including referral to vacancies in crisis accommodation or referrals to Uniting Care West Homelink funded under the SHS to assist people to find private rental accommodation and bond assistance and loans for ingoing fees, tenancy and personal support. Third, there are private rental Aboriginal assistance loans, which is a pilot project to provide Aboriginal people with a loan to meet private rental arrears up to a maximum of six weeks’ rent subject to the client agreeing to undergo financial counselling. Fourth, there is community and public rental housing, by which the Department of Housing and Works has provided to various supported accommodation assistance program funded agencies 485 units of accommodation in Western Australia through the crisis accommodation program for the provision of housing to homeless individuals and families. In addition, the department is working with the Health Department of WA to deliver accommodation under the mental health housing strategy that targets the homeless with a mental illness. The department is very aware of the issue of housing affordability in WA and has had a significant building program over recent years to increase public housing stock. Community housing programs have provided 253 units of accommodation in 2003 - 04, 91 units of accommodation in 2004 - 05 and 288 units of accommodation in 2005 - 06 and 179 units of accommodation are programmed for 2006 - 07. Currently, the department has 34 791 units of accommodation throughout WA in addition to 4 275 units of accommodation provided through various community housing programs.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The reasons for homelessness are complex. The member may refer to the 2001 Australian Bureau of Statistics census. (2) The government established the State Homelessness Taskforce in 2001. Based on the taskforce’s report, the government developed the state homelessness strategy and approved $32 million over four years to address homelessness issues. An independent review of the SHS was conducted by Estille and Associates at the beginning of this year. Initiatives established under the SHS are continuing to be funded. Examples of programs within the Department of Housing and Works that focus on addressing homelessness include the following: first, there is a bond assistance program, which provides an interest - free bond loan for people to access the private rental market - 9 445 loans were issued in 2005-06. Second, there is the Homeless Advisory Service, formerly the Homeless Helpline, which received 1 070 calls in 2005 - 06. Of that number, 774 callers were offered shelter or housing options, including referral to vacancies in crisis accommodation or referrals to Uniting Care West Homelink funded under the SHS to assist people to find private rental accommodation and bond assistance and loans for ingoing fees, tenancy and personal support. Third, there are private rental Aboriginal assistance loans, which is a pilot project to provide Aboriginal people with a loan to meet private rental arrears up to a maximum of six weeks’ rent subject to the client agreeing to undergo financial counselling. Fourth, there is community and public rental housing, by which the Department of Housing and Works has provided to various supported accommodation assistance program funded agencies 485 units of accommodation in Western Australia through the crisis accommodation program for the provision of housing to homeless individuals and families. In addition, the department is working with the Health Department of WA to deliver accommodation under the mental health housing strategy that targets the homeless with a mental illness. The department is very aware of the issue of housing affordability in WA and has had a significant building program over recent years to increase public housing stock. Community housing programs have provided 253 units of accommodation in 2003 - 04, 91 units of accommodation in 2004 - 05 and 288 units of accommodation in 2005 - 06 and 179 units of accommodation are programmed for 2006 - 07. Currently, the department has 34 791 units of accommodation throughout WA in addition to 4 275 units of accommodation provided through various community housing programs.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The reasons for homelessness are complex. The member may refer to the 2001 Australian Bureau of Statistics census. (2) The government established the State Homelessness Taskforce in 2001. Based on the taskforce’s report, the government developed the state homelessness strategy and approved $32 million over four years to address homelessness issues. An independent review of the SHS was conducted by Estille and Associates at the beginning of this year. Initiatives established under the SHS are continuing to be funded. Examples of programs within the Department of Housing and Works that focus on addressing homelessness include the following: first, there is a bond assistance program, which provides an interest - free bond loan for people to access the private rental market - 9 445 loans were issued in 2005-06. Second, there is the Homeless Advisory Service, formerly the Homeless Helpline, which received 1 070 calls in 2005 - 06. Of that number, 774 callers were offered shelter or housing options, including referral to vacancies in crisis accommodation or referrals to Uniting Care West Homelink funded under the SHS to assist people to find private rental accommodation and bond assistance and loans for ingoing fees, tenancy and personal support. Third, there are private rental Aboriginal assistance loans, which is a pilot project to provide Aboriginal people with a loan to meet private rental arrears up to a maximum of six weeks’ rent subject to the client agreeing to undergo financial counselling. Fourth, there is community and public rental housing, by which the Department of Housing and Works has provided to various supported accommodation assistance program funded agencies 485 units of accommodation in Western Australia through the crisis accommodation program for the provision of housing to homeless individuals and families. In addition, the department is working with the Health Department of WA to deliver accommodation under the mental health housing strategy that targets the homeless with a mental illness. The department is very aware of the issue of housing affordability in WA and has had a significant building program over recent years to increase public housing stock. Community housing programs have provided 253 units of accommodation in 2003 - 04, 91 units of accommodation in 2004 - 05 and 288 units of accommodation in 2005 - 06 and 179 units of accommodation are programmed for 2006 - 07. Currently, the department has 34 791 units of accommodation throughout WA in addition to 4 275 units of accommodation provided through various community housing programs.
(1) The reasons for homelessness are complex. The member may refer to the 2001 Australian Bureau of Statistics census. (2) The government established the State Homelessness Taskforce in 2001. Based on the taskforce’s report, the government developed the state homelessness strategy and approved $32 million over four years to address homelessness issues. An independent review of the SHS was conducted by Estille and Associates at the beginning of this year. Initiatives established under the SHS are continuing to be funded. Examples of programs within the Department of Housing and Works that focus on addressing homelessness include the following: first, there is a bond assistance program, which provides an interest - free bond loan for people to access the private rental market - 9 445 loans were issued in 2005-06. Second, there is the Homeless Advisory Service, formerly the Homeless Helpline, which received 1 070 calls in 2005 - 06. Of that number, 774 callers were offered shelter or housing options, including referral to vacancies in crisis accommodation or referrals to Uniting Care West Homelink funded under the SHS to assist people to find private rental accommodation and bond assistance and loans for ingoing fees, tenancy and personal support. Third, there are private rental Aboriginal assistance loans, which is a pilot project to provide Aboriginal people with a loan to meet private rental arrears up to a maximum of six weeks’ rent subject to the client agreeing to undergo financial counselling. Fourth, there is community and public rental housing, by which the Department of Housing and Works has provided to various supported accommodation assistance program funded agencies 485 units of accommodation in Western Australia through the crisis accommodation program for the provision of housing to homeless individuals and families. In addition, the department is working with the Health Department of WA to deliver accommodation under the mental health housing strategy that targets the homeless with a mental illness. The department is very aware of the issue of housing affordability in WA and has had a significant building program over recent years to increase public housing stock. Community housing programs have provided 253 units of accommodation in 2003 - 04, 91 units of accommodation in 2004 - 05 and 288 units of accommodation in 2005 - 06 and 179 units of accommodation are programmed for 2006 - 07. Currently, the department has 34 791 units of accommodation throughout WA in addition to 4 275 units of accommodation provided through various community housing programs.
(2) The government established the State Homelessness Taskforce in 2001. Based on the taskforce’s report, the government developed the state homelessness strategy and approved $32 million over four years to address homelessness issues. An independent review of the SHS was conducted by Estille and Associates at the beginning of this year. Initiatives established under the SHS are continuing to be funded. Examples of programs within the Department of Housing and Works that focus on addressing homelessness include the following: first, there is a bond assistance program, which provides an interest - free bond loan for people to access the private rental market - 9 445 loans were issued in 2005-06. Second, there is the Homeless Advisory Service, formerly the Homeless Helpline, which received 1 070 calls in 2005 - 06. Of that number, 774 callers were offered shelter or housing options, including referral to vacancies in crisis accommodation or referrals to Uniting Care West Homelink funded under the SHS to assist people to find private rental accommodation and bond assistance and loans for ingoing fees, tenancy and personal support. Third, there are private rental Aboriginal assistance loans, which is a pilot project to provide Aboriginal people with a loan to meet private rental arrears up to a maximum of six weeks’ rent subject to the client agreeing to undergo financial counselling. Fourth, there is community and public rental housing, by which the Department of Housing and Works has provided to various supported accommodation assistance program funded agencies 485 units of accommodation in Western Australia through the crisis accommodation program for the provision of housing to homeless individuals and families. In addition, the department is working with the Health Department of WA to deliver accommodation under the mental health housing strategy that targets the homeless with a mental illness. The department is very aware of the issue of housing affordability in WA and has had a significant building program over recent years to increase public housing stock. Community housing programs have provided 253 units of accommodation in 2003 - 04, 91 units of accommodation in 2004 - 05 and 288 units of accommodation in 2005 - 06 and 179 units of accommodation are programmed for 2006 - 07. Currently, the department has 34 791 units of accommodation throughout WA in addition to 4 275 units of accommodation provided through various community housing programs.
The department is very aware of the issue of housing affordability in WA and has had a significant building program over recent years to increase public housing stock. Community housing programs have provided 253 units of accommodation in 2003 - 04, 91 units of accommodation in 2004 - 05 and 288 units of accommodation in 2005 - 06 and 179 units of accommodation are programmed for 2006 - 07. Currently, the department has 34 791 units of accommodation throughout WA in addition to 4 275 units of accommodation provided through various community housing programs.
(2) What steps is the government taking to prevent the development of a homeless underclass in Perth? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The reasons for homelessness are complex. The member may refer to the 2001 Australian Bureau of Statistics census. (2) The government established the State Homelessness Taskforce in 2001. Based on the taskforce’s report, the government developed the state homelessness strategy and approved $32 million over four years to address homelessness issues. An independent review of the SHS was conducted by Estille and Associates at the beginning of this year. Initiatives established under the SHS are continuing to be funded. Examples of programs within the Department of Housing and Works that focus on addressing homelessness include the following: first, there is a bond assistance program, which provides an interest - free bond loan for people to access the private rental market - 9 445 loans were issued in 2005-06. Second, there is the Homeless Advisory Service, formerly the Homeless Helpline, which received 1 070 calls in 2005 - 06. Of that number, 774 callers were offered shelter or housing options, including referral to vacancies in crisis accommodation or referrals to Uniting Care West Homelink funded under the SHS to assist people to find private rental accommodation and bond assistance and loans for ingoing fees, tenancy and personal support. Third, there are private rental Aboriginal assistance loans, which is a pilot project to provide Aboriginal people with a loan to meet private rental arrears up to a maximum of six weeks’ rent subject to the client agreeing to undergo financial counselling. Fourth, there is community and public rental housing, by which the Department of Housing and Works has provided to various supported accommodation assistance program funded agencies 485 units of accommodation in Western Australia through the crisis accommodation program for the provision of housing to homeless individuals and families. In addition, the department is working with the Health Department of WA to deliver accommodation under the mental health housing strategy that targets the homeless with a mental illness. The department is very aware of the issue of housing affordability in WA and has had a significant building program over recent years to increase public housing stock. Community housing programs have provided 253 units of accommodation in 2003 - 04, 91 units of accommodation in 2004 - 05 and 288 units of accommodation in 2005 - 06 and 179 units of accommodation are programmed for 2006 - 07. Currently, the department has 34 791 units of accommodation throughout WA in addition to 4 275 units of accommodation provided through various community housing programs.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The reasons for homelessness are complex. The member may refer to the 2001 Australian Bureau of Statistics census. (2) The government established the State Homelessness Taskforce in 2001. Based on the taskforce’s report, the government developed the state homelessness strategy and approved $32 million over four years to address homelessness issues. An independent review of the SHS was conducted by Estille and Associates at the beginning of this year. Initiatives established under the SHS are continuing to be funded. Examples of programs within the Department of Housing and Works that focus on addressing homelessness include the following: first, there is a bond assistance program, which provides an interest - free bond loan for people to access the private rental market - 9 445 loans were issued in 2005-06. Second, there is the Homeless Advisory Service, formerly the Homeless Helpline, which received 1 070 calls in 2005 - 06. Of that number, 774 callers were offered shelter or housing options, including referral to vacancies in crisis accommodation or referrals to Uniting Care West Homelink funded under the SHS to assist people to find private rental accommodation and bond assistance and loans for ingoing fees, tenancy and personal support. Third, there are private rental Aboriginal assistance loans, which is a pilot project to provide Aboriginal people with a loan to meet private rental arrears up to a maximum of six weeks’ rent subject to the client agreeing to undergo financial counselling. Fourth, there is community and public rental housing, by which the Department of Housing and Works has provided to various supported accommodation assistance program funded agencies 485 units of accommodation in Western Australia through the crisis accommodation program for the provision of housing to homeless individuals and families. In addition, the department is working with the Health Department of WA to deliver accommodation under the mental health housing strategy that targets the homeless with a mental illness. The department is very aware of the issue of housing affordability in WA and has had a significant building program over recent years to increase public housing stock. Community housing programs have provided 253 units of accommodation in 2003 - 04, 91 units of accommodation in 2004 - 05 and 288 units of accommodation in 2005 - 06 and 179 units of accommodation are programmed for 2006 - 07. Currently, the department has 34 791 units of accommodation throughout WA in addition to 4 275 units of accommodation provided through various community housing programs.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The reasons for homelessness are complex. The member may refer to the 2001 Australian Bureau of Statistics census. (2) The government established the State Homelessness Taskforce in 2001. Based on the taskforce’s report, the government developed the state homelessness strategy and approved $32 million over four years to address homelessness issues. An independent review of the SHS was conducted by Estille and Associates at the beginning of this year. Initiatives established under the SHS are continuing to be funded. Examples of programs within the Department of Housing and Works that focus on addressing homelessness include the following: first, there is a bond assistance program, which provides an interest - free bond loan for people to access the private rental market - 9 445 loans were issued in 2005-06. Second, there is the Homeless Advisory Service, formerly the Homeless Helpline, which received 1 070 calls in 2005 - 06. Of that number, 774 callers were offered shelter or housing options, including referral to vacancies in crisis accommodation or referrals to Uniting Care West Homelink funded under the SHS to assist people to find private rental accommodation and bond assistance and loans for ingoing fees, tenancy and personal support. Third, there are private rental Aboriginal assistance loans, which is a pilot project to provide Aboriginal people with a loan to meet private rental arrears up to a maximum of six weeks’ rent subject to the client agreeing to undergo financial counselling. Fourth, there is community and public rental housing, by which the Department of Housing and Works has provided to various supported accommodation assistance program funded agencies 485 units of accommodation in Western Australia through the crisis accommodation program for the provision of housing to homeless individuals and families. In addition, the department is working with the Health Department of WA to deliver accommodation under the mental health housing strategy that targets the homeless with a mental illness. The department is very aware of the issue of housing affordability in WA and has had a significant building program over recent years to increase public housing stock. Community housing programs have provided 253 units of accommodation in 2003 - 04, 91 units of accommodation in 2004 - 05 and 288 units of accommodation in 2005 - 06 and 179 units of accommodation are programmed for 2006 - 07. Currently, the department has 34 791 units of accommodation throughout WA in addition to 4 275 units of accommodation provided through various community housing programs.
(1) The reasons for homelessness are complex. The member may refer to the 2001 Australian Bureau of Statistics census. (2) The government established the State Homelessness Taskforce in 2001. Based on the taskforce’s report, the government developed the state homelessness strategy and approved $32 million over four years to address homelessness issues. An independent review of the SHS was conducted by Estille and Associates at the beginning of this year. Initiatives established under the SHS are continuing to be funded. Examples of programs within the Department of Housing and Works that focus on addressing homelessness include the following: first, there is a bond assistance program, which provides an interest - free bond loan for people to access the private rental market - 9 445 loans were issued in 2005-06. Second, there is the Homeless Advisory Service, formerly the Homeless Helpline, which received 1 070 calls in 2005 - 06. Of that number, 774 callers were offered shelter or housing options, including referral to vacancies in crisis accommodation or referrals to Uniting Care West Homelink funded under the SHS to assist people to find private rental accommodation and bond assistance and loans for ingoing fees, tenancy and personal support. Third, there are private rental Aboriginal assistance loans, which is a pilot project to provide Aboriginal people with a loan to meet private rental arrears up to a maximum of six weeks’ rent subject to the client agreeing to undergo financial counselling. Fourth, there is community and public rental housing, by which the Department of Housing and Works has provided to various supported accommodation assistance program funded agencies 485 units of accommodation in Western Australia through the crisis accommodation program for the provision of housing to homeless individuals and families. In addition, the department is working with the Health Department of WA to deliver accommodation under the mental health housing strategy that targets the homeless with a mental illness. The department is very aware of the issue of housing affordability in WA and has had a significant building program over recent years to increase public housing stock. Community housing programs have provided 253 units of accommodation in 2003 - 04, 91 units of accommodation in 2004 - 05 and 288 units of accommodation in 2005 - 06 and 179 units of accommodation are programmed for 2006 - 07. Currently, the department has 34 791 units of accommodation throughout WA in addition to 4 275 units of accommodation provided through various community housing programs.
(2) The government established the State Homelessness Taskforce in 2001. Based on the taskforce’s report, the government developed the state homelessness strategy and approved $32 million over four years to address homelessness issues. An independent review of the SHS was conducted by Estille and Associates at the beginning of this year. Initiatives established under the SHS are continuing to be funded. Examples of programs within the Department of Housing and Works that focus on addressing homelessness include the following: first, there is a bond assistance program, which provides an interest - free bond loan for people to access the private rental market - 9 445 loans were issued in 2005-06. Second, there is the Homeless Advisory Service, formerly the Homeless Helpline, which received 1 070 calls in 2005 - 06. Of that number, 774 callers were offered shelter or housing options, including referral to vacancies in crisis accommodation or referrals to Uniting Care West Homelink funded under the SHS to assist people to find private rental accommodation and bond assistance and loans for ingoing fees, tenancy and personal support. Third, there are private rental Aboriginal assistance loans, which is a pilot project to provide Aboriginal people with a loan to meet private rental arrears up to a maximum of six weeks’ rent subject to the client agreeing to undergo financial counselling. Fourth, there is community and public rental housing, by which the Department of Housing and Works has provided to various supported accommodation assistance program funded agencies 485 units of accommodation in Western Australia through the crisis accommodation program for the provision of housing to homeless individuals and families. In addition, the department is working with the Health Department of WA to deliver accommodation under the mental health housing strategy that targets the homeless with a mental illness. The department is very aware of the issue of housing affordability in WA and has had a significant building program over recent years to increase public housing stock. Community housing programs have provided 253 units of accommodation in 2003 - 04, 91 units of accommodation in 2004 - 05 and 288 units of accommodation in 2005 - 06 and 179 units of accommodation are programmed for 2006 - 07. Currently, the department has 34 791 units of accommodation throughout WA in addition to 4 275 units of accommodation provided through various community housing programs.
The department is very aware of the issue of housing affordability in WA and has had a significant building program over recent years to increase public housing stock. Community housing programs have provided 253 units of accommodation in 2003 - 04, 91 units of accommodation in 2004 - 05 and 288 units of accommodation in 2005 - 06 and 179 units of accommodation are programmed for 2006 - 07. Currently, the department has 34 791 units of accommodation throughout WA in addition to 4 275 units of accommodation provided through various community housing programs.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.