- $34.2M in recurrent funding will go towards four homelessness programmes introduced by the Cook Government.
- Baseline funding for 10 services will be boosted by $13.4M for at least the next three years.
- Additional funding will also go towards the WA Alliance to End Homelessness' By-Name List
Nearly $50 million in funding has been announced by the Western Australian state government, directed towards homelessness support services across the state.
The funding represents a 23% boost to baseline funding for the delivery of homelessness services.
“This $47.6 million in new funding secures the long-term future of these critical homelessness accommodation providers or Hub and support services and will enhance service delivery throughout Western Australia,” said Housing; Homelessness Minister, John Carey.
The new funding will enable the continuation of 15 critical homelessness services across Western Australia and boost capacity.
As part of the package, recurrent funding to the tune of $34.2 million will be provided to four homelessness programmes, including:
- $20.1 million for continuation of culturally appropriate responses to homelessness in the Perth metropolitan area, including low-barrier accommodation at Boorloo Bidee Mia delivered by the Wungening Aboriginal Corporation, and Koort Boodja delivered by Uniting WA;
- $7.8 million for the Homelessness Engagement Assessment Response Team (HEART) to continue its Perth metropolitan coordinated outreach response services, including extensions of the service to Joondalup and Midland; and
- $5.4 million for the Safe Perth City Initiative to provide dedicated rapid and flexible assertive outreach support services in the Perth CBD and surrounds including Return to Country functions.
Nine hundred thousand dollars will be provided to the Passages Youth Centre in the Peel region for ongoing operational funding to support at risk youth. Run by St Vincent de Paul, the programme provides support to young people aged 12 to 25.
Baseline funding for 10 services will be boosted by $13.4 million for at least the next three years, including:
- $5.73 million to several St Bartholomew services;
- $2.25 million for Uniting WA’s Tranby Engagement Hub;
- $1.8 million for Anglicare’s Foyer Oxford youth accommodation facility;
- $900,000 to Salvation Army’s The Beacon accommodation facility;
- $900,000 to St Vincent De Paul’s Tom Fisher House;
- $600,000 to the Fusion youth accommodation facility; and
- $300,000 to Accorwest’s Collie Crisis and Transitional accommodation.
“As a Government, we have prioritised a Housing First Approach in line with the All Paths Lead to a Home, WA’s first 10-year strategy on homelessness, which prioritises providing stable accommodation to rough sleepers while ensuring they have the wrap-around supports they need to sustain their tenancy,” said Minister Carey.
An additional nine hundred thousand dollars in funding will also go towards the WA Alliance to End Homelessness’ By-Name List.
“Our Government recognises the value of regular and up to date data to track rough sleeping in our community, which is why we continue to invest significantly in the By Name List and the Zero Project,” said Minister Carey.
“Through our boosted outreach services, we’ve been actively working to get more people onto the By Name List and to ensure vulnerable individuals, who may be rough sleeping, have contact with and access to relevant support services.”
