Over 80 people attended the first Aboriginal led forum on Metropolitan Aboriginal Housing in Perth. The forum’s purpose was to hear from Aboriginal people and harness their experience and expertise to develop solutions for housing reform.

Shelter WA urges State Parliament not to delay the passage of critical reforms to support the victims of family and domestic violence to remain in their homes.

Two Bankwest Curtin Economic Centre reports released today found this is the reality for many people in Australia’s private rental market. Shelter WA contributed to a panel discussion at the launch of these two seminal reports.

Recently, the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, was asked about the future of funding for remote housing in WA. The Prime Minister suggested that housing was a State responsibility and that the agreement had been for a couple of years and that it had now ended.

If we just look at the news headlines about housing becoming increasingly affordable in Western Australia, the news is not good for all Western Australians.

Rents remain unaffordable for people on low incomes in Perth, despite a continued record improving trend in affordability, according to the May Rental Affordability Index (RAI).

Shelter WA welcomes the State’s Social and Affordable Housing Package, but the reality is that it does not go far enough to provide the housing required for people who are experiencing homelessness or in housing stress.

Shelter WA is disappointed not to see a single new major announcement regarding affordable housing or combating chronic homelessness, the need for more affordable and secure homes in our nation continues.

With just 10 days to go before the 2018/19 State Budget, Shelter WA is urging the State Government to recognise that investment in housing will deliver Budget repair, and result in better economic, health and education outcomes for the Western Australian community.

“The estimated number of people experiencing homelessness in Western Australia has remained persistent between the 2011 and 2016 Census, with over 9000 people experiencing homeless on any one night. These numbers remain unacceptably high,” said Shelter WA CEO Michelle Mackenzie. “As a community we can take major steps to end homelessness now.”