❓ Ms. Davies raises concerns about pregnant homeless women in the South West. The Minister responds that they are unaware of the situation but outlines existing support systems and investments in housing and early intervention.
AnsweredQoN 374Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOMELESSNESS — PREGNANT WOMEN
374. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Community Services:
I
refer to local support service providers in the south west reporting that there
are approximately 100 pregnant women without a fixed address and a recent
significant spike in demand for newborn packs for homeless mothers.
(1) Can the
minister guarantee that women giving birth at local hospitals and their
newborns will be supported and provided with suitable and stable accommodation?
(2) Is there any
risk that mothers who do not have a fixed address at discharge would be
separated from their children?
374. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Community Services:
I
refer to local support service providers in the south west reporting that there
are approximately 100 pregnant women without a fixed address and a recent
significant spike in demand for newborn packs for homeless mothers.
(1) Can the
minister guarantee that women giving birth at local hospitals and their
newborns will be supported and provided with suitable and stable accommodation?
(2) Is there any
risk that mothers who do not have a fixed address at discharge would be
separated from their children?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
actually have not heard the information that the member is referring to, and I would
have appreciated her bringing that to the
attention of my office before raising it in this place. It is not my
understanding that children are ever
taken into the care of child protection simply because there is no
accommodation available for the mother. In fact, everything is done to
make sure that people who need emergency accommodation are given emergency
accommodation, and if there are any concerns about what would happen to someone
who is facing a range of difficulties, whether they be domestic violence,
mental health, drug and alcohol or housing insecurity issues—whatever
they are—those issues are dealt with before the baby is born and supports are given to that family. In fact, we
have put a record amount of investment into early intervention assistance for families to ensure that children do not come into the child
protection system.
To answer the member's
question, I am not aware of the circumstances that she is talking about. We are well aware that there are housing pressures
throughout the state with the demands on private rentals as well as in
the public system. However, I do also note that there has been a record number
of building approvals. The Premier talked
about this in question time last week. I think over the last year there has
been an increase in building approvals of over 80 per cent. There have
been a significant number of building approvals, and there has been quite a bit of commentary that once those buildings
are built and people are able to m ove into them, that will in turn take
the pressure off private rentals and get them into the public system. Of
course, there has been significant investment by this government into public
and social housing as well.
I
would urge any individuals, families, community members or their
representatives, if they know of people living in that sort of hardship,
to get involved with services or the Department of Communities, because it certainly should not be the case that there are
risks to families being kept together because of homelessness or the
threat of homelessness.
actually have not heard the information that the member is referring to, and I would
have appreciated her bringing that to the
attention of my office before raising it in this place. It is not my
understanding that children are ever
taken into the care of child protection simply because there is no
accommodation available for the mother. In fact, everything is done to
make sure that people who need emergency accommodation are given emergency
accommodation, and if there are any concerns about what would happen to someone
who is facing a range of difficulties, whether they be domestic violence,
mental health, drug and alcohol or housing insecurity issues—whatever
they are—those issues are dealt with before the baby is born and supports are given to that family. In fact, we
have put a record amount of investment into early intervention assistance for families to ensure that children do not come into the child
protection system.
To answer the member's
question, I am not aware of the circumstances that she is talking about. We are well aware that there are housing pressures
throughout the state with the demands on private rentals as well as in
the public system. However, I do also note that there has been a record number
of building approvals. The Premier talked
about this in question time last week. I think over the last year there has
been an increase in building approvals of over 80 per cent. There have
been a significant number of building approvals, and there has been quite a bit of commentary that once those buildings
are built and people are able to m ove into them, that will in turn take
the pressure off private rentals and get them into the public system. Of
course, there has been significant investment by this government into public
and social housing as well.
I
would urge any individuals, families, community members or their
representatives, if they know of people living in that sort of hardship,
to get involved with services or the Department of Communities, because it certainly should not be the case that there are
risks to families being kept together because of homelessness or the
threat of homelessness.
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