❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses homelessness, specifically unmet service requests, deaths, and prevention strategies. The Minister's response cites data limitations and outlines existing government programs and funding.
AnsweredQoN 1295Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HOMELESSNESS
— INFORMATION COLLECTION
1295. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Child Protection:
(1) How many
requests for assistance were not met by homelessness services in Western
Australia in 2013–2014?
(2) What other
essential support services related to homelessness did not meet demand in
Western Australia in 2013–2014?
(3) How many homeless people have died on the streets in
Western Australia in —
(a) 2010–2011;
(b) 2012–2013; and
(c) 2013–2014
(4) How is the
state government planning to prevent deaths amongst homeless people from
occurring in Western Australia from 2014–15 and thereafter?
— INFORMATION COLLECTION
1295. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Child Protection:
(1) How many
requests for assistance were not met by homelessness services in Western
Australia in 2013–2014?
(2) What other
essential support services related to homelessness did not meet demand in
Western Australia in 2013–2014?
(3) How many homeless people have died on the streets in
Western Australia in —
(a) 2010–2011;
(b) 2012–2013; and
(c) 2013–2014
(4) How is the
state government planning to prevent deaths amongst homeless people from
occurring in Western Australia from 2014–15 and thereafter?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1)–(2) This
data is provided by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare—the
specialist homelessness services collection. Data for 2013–14 is not
available at this time and will be published in their annual report. A
definitive date for the release of this report has not yet been confirmed.
(3) I am advised
by the Attorney General that the Coroner's Court case management system
is unable to provide reliable information for homeless people who may have died
on Western Australian streets. The specific information necessary to identify
homeless deaths on WA streets is not collected.
(4) The state
government is committed to addressing homelessness though the provision of
specialist homelessness services in Western Australia. This commitment
contributes to reducing the number of people who are homeless, sleeping rough,
and vulnerable to the risks of living on the streets. In 2014–15, approximately
$75 million has been provided through the National Affordable Housing Agreement
and the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness for the provision of
homelessness accommodation and support services, provided by the not-for-profit
community services sector. These include accommodation and support services,
day centres, soup kitchens, tenancy support services, rough sleeper programs,
the street-to-home program, and family and domestic violence services across
the metropolitan and regional areas of Western Australia. The street-to-home
program assertive outreach teams develop relationships and provide support to
rough sleepers in order to assist them to access accommodation and support
services. The STH program is supported by the mobile clinical outreach team,
comprising mental health professionals who can assess and treat homeless people
who have mental health and/or drug and alcohol issues. Additionally, the state
government provides funding for the Street Doctor, which provides a free mobile
medical service to homeless people; and for the people with exceptionally
complex needs initiative, which is a whole-of-government response to provide
accommodation, wraparound support and coordinated services that improve
outcomes for individuals with exceptionally complex and multi-layered needs.
The state government has also
contributed to the Registry Week survey, which was held in May 2014. The
purpose of the survey was to identify the most vulnerable homeless people in
inner-city Perth, primarily those sleeping rough, and to prioritise them for
housing, health and other support services based on their assessed
vulnerability and acuity of support needs. In 2014, 168 people were assessed in
this process, and homelessness agencies are currently working collaboratively
to assist them to access services.
(1)–(2) This
data is provided by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare—the
specialist homelessness services collection. Data for 2013–14 is not
available at this time and will be published in their annual report. A
definitive date for the release of this report has not yet been confirmed.
(3) I am advised
by the Attorney General that the Coroner's Court case management system
is unable to provide reliable information for homeless people who may have died
on Western Australian streets. The specific information necessary to identify
homeless deaths on WA streets is not collected.
(4) The state
government is committed to addressing homelessness though the provision of
specialist homelessness services in Western Australia. This commitment
contributes to reducing the number of people who are homeless, sleeping rough,
and vulnerable to the risks of living on the streets. In 2014–15, approximately
$75 million has been provided through the National Affordable Housing Agreement
and the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness for the provision of
homelessness accommodation and support services, provided by the not-for-profit
community services sector. These include accommodation and support services,
day centres, soup kitchens, tenancy support services, rough sleeper programs,
the street-to-home program, and family and domestic violence services across
the metropolitan and regional areas of Western Australia. The street-to-home
program assertive outreach teams develop relationships and provide support to
rough sleepers in order to assist them to access accommodation and support
services. The STH program is supported by the mobile clinical outreach team,
comprising mental health professionals who can assess and treat homeless people
who have mental health and/or drug and alcohol issues. Additionally, the state
government provides funding for the Street Doctor, which provides a free mobile
medical service to homeless people; and for the people with exceptionally
complex needs initiative, which is a whole-of-government response to provide
accommodation, wraparound support and coordinated services that improve
outcomes for individuals with exceptionally complex and multi-layered needs.
The state government has also
contributed to the Registry Week survey, which was held in May 2014. The
purpose of the survey was to identify the most vulnerable homeless people in
inner-city Perth, primarily those sleeping rough, and to prioritise them for
housing, health and other support services based on their assessed
vulnerability and acuity of support needs. In 2014, 168 people were assessed in
this process, and homelessness agencies are currently working collaboratively
to assist them to access services.
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