Common Ground Project – July 2021 Update

The Common Ground project is a key part of All Paths Lead to a Home: Western Australia’s 10 Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020–2030.

It works towards ending rough sleeping, improving Aboriginal wellbeing, and providing innovative housing programs. The first Common Ground facility will be in East Perth, on the corner of Hill Street and Wellington Street. A second facility will be developed in the City of Mandurah. The model is based on a ‘Housing First’ approach, where people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping are placed in housing as a first priority and provided with wrap around supports.

Update | July 2021

The Department of Communities (Communities) has provided this update for key stakeholders/peaks.

  • The architect has been appointed for the East Perth site; Gresley Abas, who is commencing development of concept designs. Gresley is also in the process of appointing an Aboriginal cultural adviser to inform the building design.
  • A Town Planner has been appointed for East Perth; Hatch RobertsDay.
  • Communities continues to engage regularly with Shelter WA, WA Alliance to End Homelessness, City of Perth, City of Mandurah and Common Ground Queensland (Micah Projects) and Melbourne (Launch Housing) to inform project development.
  • An Early Tender Advice has been released on Tenders WA which is flagging that Communities intends to undertake an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to shortlist suitable organisations to assist with developing and refining key elements of the Common Ground operating model. You can view the early Display Tender Advice here.
  • Communities is working closely with City of Mandurah to determine a preferred site for the second Common Ground facility.

Further Funding

The Minister also announced further funding for the East Perth Common Ground facility on Tuesday, 6 July 2021. This will maximise the yield of the site, with an anticipated 112 self-contained apartments to be built as well as key Common Ground features of reception, offices, communal space etc. This information was included in the Minister’s CBD100 Media Release: Media Statements – New 100-bed homelessness facility to open in Perth CBD.

Anyone wanting further information or wishing to contact the project team can email them here.

Common Ground

Further information about Common Ground can be found here.