❓ Sue Ellery asks about the number of homeless people seeking assistance in WA. Robyn McSweeney provides figures from 2008-09 and details government funding and initiatives to address homelessness, highlighting a significant investment.
AnsweredQoN 299Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HOMELESS PEOPLE
What are the most recent figures available on the number of homeless people seeking assistance in Western Australia, including young people and people with children? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
What are the most recent figures available on the number of homeless people seeking assistance in Western Australia, including young people and people with children? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The latest published data from “Government-funded specialist homelessness services: SAAP National Data Collection annual report 2008–09 Australia” produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that in Western Australia around 11 100 clients and 8 200 accompanying children received support. Of the total 11 100 clients, 1 600 were aged 15 to 19 and 1 600 were aged 20 to 24. The report also indicates that, of the 8 200 accompanying children, 7 700 were under 14 years of age and 500 were aged 15 to 17 years. The Western Australian government has given $68 million to the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness and it will see 110 new non-government sector homelessness workers placed around the state. They will support people sleeping rough and help people find and maintain accommodation, and assist to maintain private tenancy. In the metropolitan area, 23 non-government organisations will receive $6.85 million a year to employ an additional 61.5 full-time equivalents. In the country, 18 non-government organisations will receive an extra $4.2 million a year to address homelessness and that will employ 35 FTEs. In addition, four workers for the Safe at Home program in the south western wheatbelt will start in July. The child support workers’ role in the country refuge will be rolled out in July 2010. This is absolutely great news for Western Australia; it is the first time in nine years that we have seen such an injection of capital from both state and commonwealth governments into homelessness in Western Australia. I could go on and on about the good work that will be done, but with 110 full-time extra workers on the ground, I think it is a good initiative.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The latest published data from “Government-funded specialist homelessness services: SAAP National Data Collection annual report 2008–09 Australia” produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that in Western Australia around 11 100 clients and 8 200 accompanying children received support. Of the total 11 100 clients, 1 600 were aged 15 to 19 and 1 600 were aged 20 to 24. The report also indicates that, of the 8 200 accompanying children, 7 700 were under 14 years of age and 500 were aged 15 to 17 years. The Western Australian government has given $68 million to the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness and it will see 110 new non-government sector homelessness workers placed around the state. They will support people sleeping rough and help people find and maintain accommodation, and assist to maintain private tenancy. In the metropolitan area, 23 non-government organisations will receive $6.85 million a year to employ an additional 61.5 full-time equivalents. In the country, 18 non-government organisations will receive an extra $4.2 million a year to address homelessness and that will employ 35 FTEs. In addition, four workers for the Safe at Home program in the south western wheatbelt will start in July. The child support workers’ role in the country refuge will be rolled out in July 2010. This is absolutely great news for Western Australia; it is the first time in nine years that we have seen such an injection of capital from both state and commonwealth governments into homelessness in Western Australia. I could go on and on about the good work that will be done, but with 110 full-time extra workers on the ground, I think it is a good initiative.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The latest published data from “Government-funded specialist homelessness services: SAAP National Data Collection annual report 2008–09 Australia” produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that in Western Australia around 11 100 clients and 8 200 accompanying children received support. Of the total 11 100 clients, 1 600 were aged 15 to 19 and 1 600 were aged 20 to 24. The report also indicates that, of the 8 200 accompanying children, 7 700 were under 14 years of age and 500 were aged 15 to 17 years. The Western Australian government has given $68 million to the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness and it will see 110 new non-government sector homelessness workers placed around the state. They will support people sleeping rough and help people find and maintain accommodation, and assist to maintain private tenancy. In the metropolitan area, 23 non-government organisations will receive $6.85 million a year to employ an additional 61.5 full-time equivalents. In the country, 18 non-government organisations will receive an extra $4.2 million a year to address homelessness and that will employ 35 FTEs. In addition, four workers for the Safe at Home program in the south western wheatbelt will start in July. The child support workers’ role in the country refuge will be rolled out in July 2010. This is absolutely great news for Western Australia; it is the first time in nine years that we have seen such an injection of capital from both state and commonwealth governments into homelessness in Western Australia. I could go on and on about the good work that will be done, but with 110 full-time extra workers on the ground, I think it is a good initiative.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The latest published data from “Government-funded specialist homelessness services: SAAP National Data Collection annual report 2008–09 Australia” produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that in Western Australia around 11 100 clients and 8 200 accompanying children received support. Of the total 11 100 clients, 1 600 were aged 15 to 19 and 1 600 were aged 20 to 24. The report also indicates that, of the 8 200 accompanying children, 7 700 were under 14 years of age and 500 were aged 15 to 17 years. The Western Australian government has given $68 million to the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness and it will see 110 new non-government sector homelessness workers placed around the state. They will support people sleeping rough and help people find and maintain accommodation, and assist to maintain private tenancy. In the metropolitan area, 23 non-government organisations will receive $6.85 million a year to employ an additional 61.5 full-time equivalents. In the country, 18 non-government organisations will receive an extra $4.2 million a year to address homelessness and that will employ 35 FTEs. In addition, four workers for the Safe at Home program in the south western wheatbelt will start in July. The child support workers’ role in the country refuge will be rolled out in July 2010. This is absolutely great news for Western Australia; it is the first time in nine years that we have seen such an injection of capital from both state and commonwealth governments into homelessness in Western Australia. I could go on and on about the good work that will be done, but with 110 full-time extra workers on the ground, I think it is a good initiative.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The latest published data from “Government-funded specialist homelessness services: SAAP National Data Collection annual report 2008–09 Australia” produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that in Western Australia around 11 100 clients and 8 200 accompanying children received support. Of the total 11 100 clients, 1 600 were aged 15 to 19 and 1 600 were aged 20 to 24. The report also indicates that, of the 8 200 accompanying children, 7 700 were under 14 years of age and 500 were aged 15 to 17 years. The Western Australian government has given $68 million to the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness and it will see 110 new non-government sector homelessness workers placed around the state. They will support people sleeping rough and help people find and maintain accommodation, and assist to maintain private tenancy. In the metropolitan area, 23 non-government organisations will receive $6.85 million a year to employ an additional 61.5 full-time equivalents. In the country, 18 non-government organisations will receive an extra $4.2 million a year to address homelessness and that will employ 35 FTEs. In addition, four workers for the Safe at Home program in the south western wheatbelt will start in July. The child support workers’ role in the country refuge will be rolled out in July 2010. This is absolutely great news for Western Australia; it is the first time in nine years that we have seen such an injection of capital from both state and commonwealth governments into homelessness in Western Australia. I could go on and on about the good work that will be done, but with 110 full-time extra workers on the ground, I think it is a good initiative.
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