❓ Hon Steve Martin asks about the number of social and public houses in WA, vacancy rates, and waitlist numbers. The Minister provides data as of July 31, 2023, highlighting government investment and ongoing maintenance efforts.
AnsweredQoN 1004Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC AND SOCIAL HOUSING
1004. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the minister representing the
Minister for Housing:
I refer to public and social
housing in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister provide the total number of the following in Western Australia, as of
the nearest available date —
(a) social houses; and
(b) public houses?
(2) How many public houses are
currently vacant?
(3) How many applications, representing
how many individuals, are there currently for the —
(a) public housing waitlist; and
(b) priority public housing waitlist?
1004. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the minister representing the
Minister for Housing:
I refer to public and social
housing in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister provide the total number of the following in Western Australia, as of
the nearest available date —
(a) social houses; and
(b) public houses?
(2) How many public houses are
currently vacant?
(3) How many applications, representing
how many individuals, are there currently for the —
(a) public housing waitlist; and
(b) priority public housing waitlist?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. I answer on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture and Food. The
following information has been provided by the Minister for Housing.
(1) Since the
Cook government's record investment of $2.6 billion into social housing
and homelessness measures, the state government has added more than 1 500
homes, with a further 1 000 under contract or construction. Some of these
properties may not be reflected in this data as the data often takes time to be
transferred wholly into the Department of Communities' systems across
regional offices.
As at 31 July, there were 43 795
social houses, of which 36 383 are public houses.
(2) The
vacancy number is always a single-point-in-time number that fluctuates for a range
of reasons, including maintenance,
refurbishments and redevelopments waiting for re-let. People move in and out of public housing properties for a range of reasons, including moving into
aged care or alternative accommodation, changes in family composition or other
life circumstances. If maintenance is undertaken to return a property to
service, it is undertaken so it can be re-let in clean, safe and working order.
As at 31 July 2023, 1 395 returning
properties were in the process of either being re-let to people on the public
housing waitlist or returning to stock after the completion of refurbishment or
maintenance, to be allocated to people on the public housing waitlist. As at 31
July 2023, 426 non-returning properties were undergoing further assessment and
may be considered for redevelopment.
(3) As at 31 July
2023, the public waitlist fell to 18 984 applications statewide, representing
33 943 people. This includes 4 768 priority applications, representing 9 447
people.
of the question. I answer on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture and Food. The
following information has been provided by the Minister for Housing.
(1) Since the
Cook government's record investment of $2.6 billion into social housing
and homelessness measures, the state government has added more than 1 500
homes, with a further 1 000 under contract or construction. Some of these
properties may not be reflected in this data as the data often takes time to be
transferred wholly into the Department of Communities' systems across
regional offices.
As at 31 July, there were 43 795
social houses, of which 36 383 are public houses.
(2) The
vacancy number is always a single-point-in-time number that fluctuates for a range
of reasons, including maintenance,
refurbishments and redevelopments waiting for re-let. People move in and out of public housing properties for a range of reasons, including moving into
aged care or alternative accommodation, changes in family composition or other
life circumstances. If maintenance is undertaken to return a property to
service, it is undertaken so it can be re-let in clean, safe and working order.
As at 31 July 2023, 1 395 returning
properties were in the process of either being re-let to people on the public
housing waitlist or returning to stock after the completion of refurbishment or
maintenance, to be allocated to people on the public housing waitlist. As at 31
July 2023, 426 non-returning properties were undergoing further assessment and
may be considered for redevelopment.
(3) As at 31 July
2023, the public waitlist fell to 18 984 applications statewide, representing
33 943 people. This includes 4 768 priority applications, representing 9 447
people.
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