❓ Hon Steve Martin asks about the number of public housing evictions in WA, and the Minister for Housing provides data showing a decline in evictions under the current government, highlighting support services offered to tenants.
AnsweredQoN 923Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC HOUSING — EVICTIONS
923. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Housing:
I refer to a recent news report by
ABC Perth that claims vulnerable Western Australians are being left on the
street after being evicted from their public housing properties. How many
public housing tenants were evicted in each of the following financial years —
(a) 2018–19;
(b) 2019–20;
(c) 2021–22; and
(d) 2022 to date?
923. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Housing:
I refer to a recent news report by
ABC Perth that claims vulnerable Western Australians are being left on the
street after being evicted from their public housing properties. How many
public housing tenants were evicted in each of the following financial years —
(a) 2018–19;
(b) 2019–20;
(c) 2021–22; and
(d) 2022 to date?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(a)–(d) The
Department of Communities works with tenants to ensure they are given every
opportunity to rectify the issues impacting
their tenancy. This includes making appropriate referrals to supports and programs such as Thrive, which provides support to public housing clients.
When a tenant is at risk of eviction,
the Department of Communities will increase its contact with the client and
link them with relevant support services to help address the issues impacting
their tenancy. In most cases when engagement occurs, clients can remedy the
issues impacting their tenancy. Termination proceedings are initiated only when
tenants repeatedly or egregiously fail to utilise all the opportunities
provided to them to resolve tenancy concerns. Eviction is the last resort for
the department and is often taken to ensure the safety of the community.
The Department of Communities also
works with a range of services and supports, including mental health services,
community legal centres, Aboriginal medical services, disability support
providers and domestic violence support services to support tenants.
Notwithstanding this, evictions have
continued to decline significantly under this government when compared with the
previous Liberal–National government. Information on public housing
bailiff evictions by financial year is provided in tabular form. I seek leave
to have that part of the answer incorporated into Hansard .
[Leave granted for the following
material to be incorporated.]
Public Housing Bailiff
Evictions, by Financial Year:
2015–16
315
2016–17
293
2017–18
159
2018–19
167
2019–20
93
2020–21*
7
2021–22
43
2022–23
YTD**
11
*The
2020–21 financial year reflects a period in which the moratorium on
terminations was implemented during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
**YTD
as at 30 September 2022.
some notice of the question.
(a)–(d) The
Department of Communities works with tenants to ensure they are given every
opportunity to rectify the issues impacting
their tenancy. This includes making appropriate referrals to supports and programs such as Thrive, which provides support to public housing clients.
When a tenant is at risk of eviction,
the Department of Communities will increase its contact with the client and
link them with relevant support services to help address the issues impacting
their tenancy. In most cases when engagement occurs, clients can remedy the
issues impacting their tenancy. Termination proceedings are initiated only when
tenants repeatedly or egregiously fail to utilise all the opportunities
provided to them to resolve tenancy concerns. Eviction is the last resort for
the department and is often taken to ensure the safety of the community.
The Department of Communities also
works with a range of services and supports, including mental health services,
community legal centres, Aboriginal medical services, disability support
providers and domestic violence support services to support tenants.
Notwithstanding this, evictions have
continued to decline significantly under this government when compared with the
previous Liberal–National government. Information on public housing
bailiff evictions by financial year is provided in tabular form. I seek leave
to have that part of the answer incorporated into Hansard .
[Leave granted for the following
material to be incorporated.]
Public Housing Bailiff
Evictions, by Financial Year:
2015–16
315
2016–17
293
2017–18
159
2018–19
167
2019–20
93
2020–21*
7
2021–22
43
2022–23
YTD**
11
*The
2020–21 financial year reflects a period in which the moratorium on
terminations was implemented during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
**YTD
as at 30 September 2022.
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