❓ Analysis of a WA parliamentary Question on Notice regarding homelessness in the Geraldton electorate, highlighting data discrepancies and government-funded support services.
AnsweredQoN 1568Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to homelessness in Geraldton, and I ask: (a) How many people are currently homeless within the Geraldton electorate; (b) How does this figure compare to other parts of the State; (c) What crisis accommodation options are available for people to seek; (d) What is the average time a person in Geraldton spends at one of these crisis accommodation facilities; and (e) How does this figure compare to the past five years?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 February 2026
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Homelessness
Response time
1 days
(a) – (e)
There is no single real-time figure that captures the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Geraldton electorate for the date of this question. Homelessness is dynamic, data is drawn from multiple sources, and not all persons who experience homelessness make themselves known to those that collect the data.
The most reliable point in time for the collection of data is the Australian Census [1] , which reported 344 persons experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping in the Geraldton electorate [2] . Another source of data is the By Name List administered through the Zero Project, which relies on service-level data. As at May 2025, the By Name List recorded 69 individuals experiencing homelessness in Geraldton [3] .
Homelessness in the Geraldton electorate reflects patterns seen in other regional centres across Western Australia, with people experiencing a range of circumstances including rough sleeping, temporary shelter and housing insecurity.
The Cook Government funds a range of homelessness services in Geraldton and across the Mid-West Gascoyne region, including outreach, Housing First Support Services, tenancy and private rental assistance, and supported short-term accommodation for families, young people and aboriginal people. These services provide crisis support while assisting people to transition into safe and secure housing.
People accessing crisis and supported accommodation in the Geraldton area typically spend several months in accommodation support, reflecting the complexity of individual needs and the availability of suitable long-term housing. Over recent years, the average length of accommodation support in the region has varied, but remains broadly consistent with trends seen across regional Western Australia.
[1] The ABS defines homelessness as:
A person is homeless if they do not have suitable accommodation alternatives and their current living arrangement:
[2] Census Data:
LGA
Rough Sleepers
Homeless Persons
Greater Geraldton
62
253
Chapman Valley
0
4
Northampton
0
25
The Geraldton electorate (post-2025) consists of three LGAs. The 2021 Australian Census reports homelessness statistics by LGA. The above is the results from the LGAs within the Geraldton electorate.
[3] Please not the following with respect to the reference to Geraldton in the context of the By-Name List:
There is no single real-time figure that captures the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Geraldton electorate for the date of this question. Homelessness is dynamic, data is drawn from multiple sources, and not all persons who experience homelessness make themselves known to those that collect the data.
The most reliable point in time for the collection of data is the Australian Census [1] , which reported 344 persons experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping in the Geraldton electorate [2] . Another source of data is the By Name List administered through the Zero Project, which relies on service-level data. As at May 2025, the By Name List recorded 69 individuals experiencing homelessness in Geraldton [3] .
Homelessness in the Geraldton electorate reflects patterns seen in other regional centres across Western Australia, with people experiencing a range of circumstances including rough sleeping, temporary shelter and housing insecurity.
The Cook Government funds a range of homelessness services in Geraldton and across the Mid-West Gascoyne region, including outreach, Housing First Support Services, tenancy and private rental assistance, and supported short-term accommodation for families, young people and aboriginal people. These services provide crisis support while assisting people to transition into safe and secure housing.
People accessing crisis and supported accommodation in the Geraldton area typically spend several months in accommodation support, reflecting the complexity of individual needs and the availability of suitable long-term housing. Over recent years, the average length of accommodation support in the region has varied, but remains broadly consistent with trends seen across regional Western Australia.
[1] The ABS defines homelessness as:
A person is homeless if they do not have suitable accommodation alternatives and their current living arrangement:
[2] Census Data:
LGA
Rough Sleepers
Homeless Persons
Greater Geraldton
62
253
Chapman Valley
0
4
Northampton
0
25
The Geraldton electorate (post-2025) consists of three LGAs. The 2021 Australian Census reports homelessness statistics by LGA. The above is the results from the LGAs within the Geraldton electorate.
[3] Please not the following with respect to the reference to Geraldton in the context of the By-Name List:
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