❓ Ms. Giddens questions the Minister for Homelessness on actions to reduce rough sleeping. The Minister details government initiatives, criticises the opposition's lack of solutions, and highlights support from key sector leaders.
AnsweredQoN 26Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROUGH SLEEPING COORDINATION GROUP
26. Ms K.E. GIDDENS to the Minister for Homelessness:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to reducing homelessness in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house the actions that this government is taking to
reduce homelessness by providing accommodation for rough sleepers?
(2) Can the minister advise the
house whether he is aware of any alternative policy approaches?
26. Ms K.E. GIDDENS to the Minister for Homelessness:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to reducing homelessness in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house the actions that this government is taking to
reduce homelessness by providing accommodation for rough sleepers?
(2) Can the minister advise the
house whether he is aware of any alternative policy approaches?
AnswerView source ↗
I want to thank
the member for her question.
(1)–(2) Last
week, I spent two hours sitting with about 30 to 40 organisations at the rough
sleeping coordination group. This group meets on a fortnightly basis to make
assessments about rough sleepers. We helped to establish this group as part of a wider package of reforms to drive
better outcomes from the huge investment that is being made in the homelessness arena. What became very apparent
to me after sitting there for two hours and listening is that the issue
of trying to break the cycle of rough sleeping is deeply complex; indeed,
outreach workers outlined the years it has taken them to develop relationships
with rough sleepers to help them move to the next part of the cycle. It is very
complex and it is a challenge.
The Leader of the Opposition made
claims today about Boorloo Bidee Mia and filling a building with people. It
does not work like that, and it is disappointing to see the deliberate
ignorance by the opposition on these matters. I announced a major reform
package, part of which is around the Housing First approach and assisting rough
sleepers to get into accommodation. After a substantial time of review and
looking at buildings in the city, I announced that we would purchase the Murray
Street lodge, a 30-room building, to assist people to break that cycle. I also
announced on 12 January that we would be investing with a community provider to
run that facility That is on top of a range of other reforms, including
additional funds and our 100 social homes
program in which the government will spot-purchase homes and refer rough sleepers to those homes with support, recognising that it is likely to be in
the same area in which the rough sleepers have a street presence.
I want to put on the record that the
key leaders in the sector applauded this. Ruah, which is recognised as a credible
provider, said, ''We applaud the continued steps this Government is
taking toward addressing chronic rough sleeping and ending homelessness in our
state.'' Shelter WA, the other key leader in the sector, said, ''We
congratulate Minister Carey on this announcement and commend him on the
momentum he is building in this space.'' It also said, ''This
investment will change lives.'' David Pearson from the WA Alliance to
End Homelessness said, ''We commend the government's leadership
on Housing First.'' Those are comments from the three most credible
leaders in the homelessness space. This is where the politics kicks in. The opposition, at every opportunity, can never say, ''This
is a good initiative.'' There was one sole voice criticising this
proposal and that was Hon Steve Martin, who attacked it. I am interested to
know about the Liberal and National Parties' solutions. In two years,
they have had zero policy. Another thought
bubble from the Leader of the Opposition was to convert CBD office buildings
into accommodation— not hotels that are ready made, which the
opposition has criticised. No, we should look at converting those buildings—but at what cost and
getting what tradies to do that in what time frame? I offer a pragmatic
and real solution using ready accommodation but the opposition criticises it.
When the opposition was pressed about its solution—this was on ABC last
year—Hon Steve Martin said, ''I think we'll do maintenance.''
Since July 2020, our government has issued 500 000 maintenance work orders—we
are already doing it. There is a stark contrast between this government, which
is delivering pragmatic and real solutions, and the complete and absolute
policy vacuum on the other side.
the member for her question.
(1)–(2) Last
week, I spent two hours sitting with about 30 to 40 organisations at the rough
sleeping coordination group. This group meets on a fortnightly basis to make
assessments about rough sleepers. We helped to establish this group as part of a wider package of reforms to drive
better outcomes from the huge investment that is being made in the homelessness arena. What became very apparent
to me after sitting there for two hours and listening is that the issue
of trying to break the cycle of rough sleeping is deeply complex; indeed,
outreach workers outlined the years it has taken them to develop relationships
with rough sleepers to help them move to the next part of the cycle. It is very
complex and it is a challenge.
The Leader of the Opposition made
claims today about Boorloo Bidee Mia and filling a building with people. It
does not work like that, and it is disappointing to see the deliberate
ignorance by the opposition on these matters. I announced a major reform
package, part of which is around the Housing First approach and assisting rough
sleepers to get into accommodation. After a substantial time of review and
looking at buildings in the city, I announced that we would purchase the Murray
Street lodge, a 30-room building, to assist people to break that cycle. I also
announced on 12 January that we would be investing with a community provider to
run that facility That is on top of a range of other reforms, including
additional funds and our 100 social homes
program in which the government will spot-purchase homes and refer rough sleepers to those homes with support, recognising that it is likely to be in
the same area in which the rough sleepers have a street presence.
I want to put on the record that the
key leaders in the sector applauded this. Ruah, which is recognised as a credible
provider, said, ''We applaud the continued steps this Government is
taking toward addressing chronic rough sleeping and ending homelessness in our
state.'' Shelter WA, the other key leader in the sector, said, ''We
congratulate Minister Carey on this announcement and commend him on the
momentum he is building in this space.'' It also said, ''This
investment will change lives.'' David Pearson from the WA Alliance to
End Homelessness said, ''We commend the government's leadership
on Housing First.'' Those are comments from the three most credible
leaders in the homelessness space. This is where the politics kicks in. The opposition, at every opportunity, can never say, ''This
is a good initiative.'' There was one sole voice criticising this
proposal and that was Hon Steve Martin, who attacked it. I am interested to
know about the Liberal and National Parties' solutions. In two years,
they have had zero policy. Another thought
bubble from the Leader of the Opposition was to convert CBD office buildings
into accommodation— not hotels that are ready made, which the
opposition has criticised. No, we should look at converting those buildings—but at what cost and
getting what tradies to do that in what time frame? I offer a pragmatic
and real solution using ready accommodation but the opposition criticises it.
When the opposition was pressed about its solution—this was on ABC last
year—Hon Steve Martin said, ''I think we'll do maintenance.''
Since July 2020, our government has issued 500 000 maintenance work orders—we
are already doing it. There is a stark contrast between this government, which
is delivering pragmatic and real solutions, and the complete and absolute
policy vacuum on the other side.
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