❓ WA Parliament Question on Notice regarding the public housing waitlist as of November 30, 2023, including data on applications, priority cases, single-person applications, children, family violence concerns, and average wait times.
AnsweredQoN 1788Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the public housing waitlist, and I ask: (a) how many applications, representing how many people, are currently on the waitlist; (b) how many applications, representing how many people, are on the priority housing waitlist; (c) how many applications in (a) represent a single person only; (d) how many applications in (b) represent a single person only; (e) how many children are represented amongst the applications in (a); (f) how many children are represented amongst the applications in (b); (g) how many applications in (a) referenced family violence concerns; (h) how many applications in (b) referenced family violence concerns; (i) for those in (a), what is the average time in weeks that those applications have been on the waitlist; and (j) for those in (b), what is the average time in weeks that those applications have been on the waitlist?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
27 February 2024
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
2 days
The Department of Communities (Communities) provides multiple pathways, including public rental housing, to those unable to obtain adequate and appropriate housing through the private sector. It should be noted that the majority of applicants have access to some form of accommodation while waiting to be housed.
(a-b)
As at 30 November 2023, there were 19,391 applications on the public housing wait list state-wide, representing 34,505 people. This includes 5,014 priority applications, representing 9,829 people.
(c-d)
A large proportion of social housing demand is for one and two bedroom properties. The State Government has invested in a range of programs, including the spot purchasing program and large-scale redevelopments, to continue to deliver one and two bedroom properties.
As at 30 November 2023, there were 12,090 public housing wait list applications state-wide with a single person listed on an application, This includes 2,703 priority applications.
(e-f)
Householders under the age of 18 may be listed as householders on multiple applications therefore the requested data would require a manual review of files which is considered to be an unreasonable use of government resources.
(g-h)
Communities provides multiple pathways, including public rental housing, to those unable to obtain adequate and appropriate housing through the private sector. Eligibility for public housing is primarily based on income, but there are circumstances under which income does not apply, for example situations of family or domestic violence.
Public housing applicants who are experiencing family and domestic violence and are assessed as requiring priority assistance because of their circumstances will be priority listed and recorded under a domestic and family violence category. Therefore, Communities does not record wait turn applications under this category, and a breakdown of the wait turn public housing waitlist cannot be provided.
As at 30 November 2023, there were 64 applications state-wide where the 'Priority List Category’ was ‘Domestic and Family Violence', representing 173 people.
It is important to note that most applicants for public housing have access to accommodation while they are waiting to be offered a property. Additionally the State Government funds a number of services supporting people who are experiencing family and domestic violence, including accommodation options.
(i-j)
As at 30 November 2023, there were 2,662 occupations in the past 12 months from the public housing wait list state-wide and the average wait time was 138 weeks and the median wait time was 112 weeks.
As at 30 November 2023, there were 1,815 occupations in the past 12 months from the public housing priority wait list state-wide and the average wait time was 76 weeks and the median wait time was 67 weeks.
(a-b)
As at 30 November 2023, there were 19,391 applications on the public housing wait list state-wide, representing 34,505 people. This includes 5,014 priority applications, representing 9,829 people.
(c-d)
A large proportion of social housing demand is for one and two bedroom properties. The State Government has invested in a range of programs, including the spot purchasing program and large-scale redevelopments, to continue to deliver one and two bedroom properties.
As at 30 November 2023, there were 12,090 public housing wait list applications state-wide with a single person listed on an application, This includes 2,703 priority applications.
(e-f)
Householders under the age of 18 may be listed as householders on multiple applications therefore the requested data would require a manual review of files which is considered to be an unreasonable use of government resources.
(g-h)
Communities provides multiple pathways, including public rental housing, to those unable to obtain adequate and appropriate housing through the private sector. Eligibility for public housing is primarily based on income, but there are circumstances under which income does not apply, for example situations of family or domestic violence.
Public housing applicants who are experiencing family and domestic violence and are assessed as requiring priority assistance because of their circumstances will be priority listed and recorded under a domestic and family violence category. Therefore, Communities does not record wait turn applications under this category, and a breakdown of the wait turn public housing waitlist cannot be provided.
As at 30 November 2023, there were 64 applications state-wide where the 'Priority List Category’ was ‘Domestic and Family Violence', representing 173 people.
It is important to note that most applicants for public housing have access to accommodation while they are waiting to be offered a property. Additionally the State Government funds a number of services supporting people who are experiencing family and domestic violence, including accommodation options.
(i-j)
As at 30 November 2023, there were 2,662 occupations in the past 12 months from the public housing wait list state-wide and the average wait time was 138 weeks and the median wait time was 112 weeks.
As at 30 November 2023, there were 1,815 occupations in the past 12 months from the public housing priority wait list state-wide and the average wait time was 76 weeks and the median wait time was 67 weeks.
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