WA homeless services are set to receive a $92.2 million funding boost, during what providers say is the State’s worst ever crisis for rough sleepers.
Homelessness and Housing Minister John Carey made the pre-budget announcement Friday and said it was an “unprecedented increase in baseline funding” for services.
Mr Carey said the money would benefit more than 120 organisations and included $15.7m to expand the Housing First homelessness services, which provides accommodation and wraparound services for vulnerable people.
It will employ more case management workers and increase funding for referral services.
Combined with the additional funding announced at the mid-year review, homelessness services will receive a total boost of nearly $140m.
“In the lead-up to the 2024-25 State Budget, the homelessness service sector called on the State Government to increase funding to maintain vital services – and our Government has responded with a $92.2 million investment – a massive increase to funding for specialist homelessness services throughout WA,” Mr Carey said.
“This is an unprecedented increase. And it responds to Shelter WA’s request for critical funding for the homelessness services that operate in our State.”
St Patrick’s Community Support Centre in Fremantle is currently receiving 100 calls for help every day and about 200 people coming in-person to the centre.
St Pat’s communications coordinator Sophie Moore said the level of demand was “pretty much the worst that we’ve seen it”.
“In terms of the increase in new people experiencing homelessness, — people who are working families — we’ve had an increase across all areas in that regard,” she said.
Ms Moore said there was especially an increase in demand from women and families, driven by the cost of living and low rental vacancies.
“We do have to turn people away. That’s across the sector,” she said.
“We will always try and link them into other service providers who might have support in the area or might have the capacity.”
Ms Moore said the additional funding to boost the capacity to support people presenting to services was “fantastic”.
Shelter WA Chief Executive Officer Kath Snell said the funding was “a lifeline for a sector that has been drowning”.
“Our members have been losing sleep at night, worried about significant shortfalls and overwhelming demand they face every day,” Ms Snell said.
“This will mean services can bring on more case workers and assertive outreach, expand housing support at Day Centres, and take on additional clients.”
Ms Snell said Shelter WA had found just 30 per cent of rough sleepers had a case worker in March and the funding would “directly help” those without.