[Media Release] Shelter WA welcomes funding support for homelessness support services

Shelter WA welcomes the State Government’s announcement today of $47.6 million in funding for homelessness services.   

Sustainable and sufficient funding for homelessness services has been a priority concern for Shelter WA, CEWA, WACOSS and the homelessness sector for a number of years.   

The funding package announced by the State Government today shows that the Premier and Minister Carey are listening and acting in response to the needs of the community.  

This package of funding includes:  

• $34.2 million in recurrent funding to four essential homelessness services in the Metro area (Boorloo Bidee Mia, HEART, Koort Boodja and the Safe Perth City Initiative) which will ensure that they can continue operations; 
• $13.4 million contribution to baseline funding, for at least the next three years, for 10 more essential homelessness services to ensure sustainability of those services;  
• $900,000 funding each for Passages Youth Centre and the WA Alliance to End Homelessness. 
  

The announcement today will help to relieve funding uncertainty for a number of key homelessness services who are providing vital support to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in WA.   

Over recent years WA has seen a rise in homelessness and housing instability, which has added significant pressure to the homelessness sector.  

The 2021 census results showed an 8 per cent increase in homelessness in WA; and almost double the number of people rough sleeping.   

By-name list data from the WA Alliance to End Homelessness shows that since the time of the census, homelessness has continued to rise in the Perth Metro area – from 970 people in December 2021 (including 452 people rough sleeping) to 1,243 in December 2023 (including 614 people rough sleeping).     

Figures also show how this pressure is being felt by WA’s homelessness services: recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures showed that on any given day in WA last year, 75 requests for assistance from homelessness services were unable to be met, representing an 18 per cent increase from five years ago.   

This funding package ensures more reliable, sustainable funding which will no doubt be a relief for the sector and frontline workers, but also to those people who access these services every day.   

In the lead up to the 2024-25 State Budget, Shelter WA will continue working with the State Government towards ensuring that funding for homelessness services is both sustainable and consistent with need.   

Shelter WA Chief Executive Officer Kath Snell said: 

“We warmly welcome this announcement.  The sector and Shelter WA, along with WACOSS and CEWA, have been advocating for greater security in the funding of homelessness services for years, and this announcement has reassured providers that the Cook government is listening and responding to community need.”  

“We thank the Cook government for responding, and Minister Carey for continuing to champion and support the housing and homelessness sectors at such an urgent time.”  

“The certainty this package provides is crucial at a time when we are experiencing significant increased demands on service providers.”  

“We welcome the announcement for all of the services named who are doing vital work in the community; and will continue to advocate for further funding into homelessness services as part of our budget asks.”  

“Announcements like this give welcome comfort to those utilising the services; along with relief for those working in the sector.”  

“The evidence tells us that an uplift in funding is needed to match need across homelessness services and, we continue our advocacy work with government as we lead up to the state budget in May. We strongly encourage further funding for homelessness services to appear strongly in the budget.” 

Further information can be found here.  

Shelter WA 

Shelter WA is the independent peak body in Western Australia for the community housing and homelessness sectors. With 140 members, our strength is providing evidence-based policy, advice, engagement, representation and strong advocacy for an effective housing system.