❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses homelessness, specifically people living in cars in Rockingham. The Minister responds, outlining government initiatives and data limitations.
AnsweredQoN 1265Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
FOR CHILD PROTECTION AND FAMILY SUPPORT — HOMELESSNESS
1265. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Child Protection:
(1) Following
a Senate inquiry on homelessness last week in Western Australia, is the
minister aware of up to 50 people living in their cars in Rockingham?
(2) How many
times have representatives of those living in their cars in Rockingham called
the minister's office?
(3) What has the Department for Child Protection and Family
Support done to directly assist?
(4) Is the
minister aware that the representatives claim that the only assistance provided
by her office was to advise them to get ''patched in'' to services
currently unavailable or to access a Homeswest bond for which zero properties
in the Perth rental market are affordable to people on low incomes as reported
in the Anglicare annual rental affordability snapshot?
(5) How is the
state government planning to address Western Australians living in their cars
in 2014 and thereafter?
(6) What is the estimate of people in Western Australia
currently living in their cars?
FOR CHILD PROTECTION AND FAMILY SUPPORT — HOMELESSNESS
1265. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Child Protection:
(1) Following
a Senate inquiry on homelessness last week in Western Australia, is the
minister aware of up to 50 people living in their cars in Rockingham?
(2) How many
times have representatives of those living in their cars in Rockingham called
the minister's office?
(3) What has the Department for Child Protection and Family
Support done to directly assist?
(4) Is the
minister aware that the representatives claim that the only assistance provided
by her office was to advise them to get ''patched in'' to services
currently unavailable or to access a Homeswest bond for which zero properties
in the Perth rental market are affordable to people on low incomes as reported
in the Anglicare annual rental affordability snapshot?
(5) How is the
state government planning to address Western Australians living in their cars
in 2014 and thereafter?
(6) What is the estimate of people in Western Australia
currently living in their cars?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) I am
advised that my office has been contacted by a representative from the office
of Senator Ludlam, who reportedly advised that there are up to 50 people living
in their cars in the Rockingham area. I have no information to confirm this
statement.
(2) A representative
of Senator Ludlam has contacted my ministerial office concerning one individual
over the past two months.
(3) My
ministerial office provided information and advice about services that may be
of assistance to the specific individual. These included the Entrypoint Perth
emergency accommodation service, Mental Health Carers Arafmi and the Rockingham
community mental health service. The Department for Child Protection and Family
Support provides support to individuals who are homeless to access accommodation
services. 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.
(4) No;
however, I am advised that conversations have occurred between representatives
from Senator Ludlam's office and at least one other ministerial office.
Any comments relating to these issues need to be directed to the relevant
minister.
(5) The government is committed to
addressing homelessness through the provision of specialist homelessness
services in Western Australia. In 2014–15, approximately $75 million
will be 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. The state government has agreed on the importance of
continuing a national approach to maintain critical efforts to address
homelessness. The state government will continue discussions towards
negotiating the development of a future long-term partnership with the
commonwealth government, which will include provision for an increase in long-term
stable accommodation opportunities for Western Australians.
(6) The
specialist homelessness services collection data provides homelessness data.
However, this collection does not specifically collect data on people living in
cars; therefore, an estimate of people living cars in Western Australia cannot
be provided.
(1) I am
advised that my office has been contacted by a representative from the office
of Senator Ludlam, who reportedly advised that there are up to 50 people living
in their cars in the Rockingham area. I have no information to confirm this
statement.
(2) A representative
of Senator Ludlam has contacted my ministerial office concerning one individual
over the past two months.
(3) My
ministerial office provided information and advice about services that may be
of assistance to the specific individual. These included the Entrypoint Perth
emergency accommodation service, Mental Health Carers Arafmi and the Rockingham
community mental health service. The Department for Child Protection and Family
Support provides support to individuals who are homeless to access accommodation
services. 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.
(4) No;
however, I am advised that conversations have occurred between representatives
from Senator Ludlam's office and at least one other ministerial office.
Any comments relating to these issues need to be directed to the relevant
minister.
(5) The government is committed to
addressing homelessness through the provision of specialist homelessness
services in Western Australia. In 2014–15, approximately $75 million
will be 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. The state government has agreed on the importance of
continuing a national approach to maintain critical efforts to address
homelessness. The state government will continue discussions towards
negotiating the development of a future long-term partnership with the
commonwealth government, which will include provision for an increase in long-term
stable accommodation opportunities for Western Australians.
(6) The
specialist homelessness services collection data provides homelessness data.
However, this collection does not specifically collect data on people living in
cars; therefore, an estimate of people living cars in Western Australia cannot
be provided.
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