HUGE NEWS $50 million Community Housing Fund for the regions announced

The call for submissions is now open!

We were thrilled by the Cook Government’s announcement of a new $50 million Community Housing grants fund for the regions two weeks ago.   We sent out a Member Alert on the day but here’s more information in case you missed it.

Shelter WA Vice Chair, Michael Piu joined the Minster for the announcement, and we’ve been able to confirm:

• This is a brand new regional grant funding round.  It is $50 million in additional funding for community housing in the regions,
• The funding is available for a wide range of models for builds, including tiny homes, granny flats and refurbishments.  We’ve confirmed government is open to a range of diverse dwelling types for Band A social housing that meets the requirements set out in the Guidance Notes, including group housing and multi-level apartments,
• ***Even for members and ACHOs who are not yet registered, you are still encouraged to apply and have early conversations with Government about what might be possible***. We have confirmed the current process with the CHP Call For Submissions (CFS process) is that you don’t have to be registered to apply but registration is required before funding is released. This is detailed in the grant guidance notes (new builds and refurbishments) on page 5. The Department of Communities will also make this clear

For more information the Government media release is here: $50 million boost for community housing grants across regional WA.

Community housing providers can visit the Department of Communities website or email CFS-CHP@communities.wa.gov.au for more information.

This momentous fund today will help us continue to deliver high quality, and much needed solutions on the ground across WA’s regions.

Shelter WA members in the regions are at the frontline of the worst housing and homelessness crisis on record, and for those in the regions this has unique and acute impacts.

The announcement represents a game changer for the community housing sector to help deliver tailored housing options to people really needing it in the regions.

Shelter WA extends sincere congratulations and gratitude to Minister Carey and the Cook Government for actively listening to the needs on the ground, for the significant initiatives that have been rolled out, aimed at delivering the housing we need, and working to solve homelessness.

We are particularly grateful to Minister Carey for his strong support of the critical role the community housing sector plays in delivering great social housing outcomes. We will continue to strongly advocate for more funding and capacity in our sector – a sector that has proven to be nimble, innovative and passionate about working with government and community to deliver lasting solutions.

Our members are delivering a range of community housing outcomes in the regions, from the award winning Accordwest Tiny Homes Project in Bunbury to the incredible work the Goldfields Indigenous Housing Organisation are doing in Kalgoorlie.

We are proud as a sector to be a key delivery partner working with government to tackle the challenges of housing supply and homelessness.