Ruqayyah Snyder
Homelessness is a complex issue in Western Australia, with varying rates across the region. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) defines homelessness as lacking one or more elements that represent a home. In 2021, the ABS Census estimated 9,700 homeless individuals in Western Australia, a rise from 9,005 in 2016. The Western Australian government has acknowledged the issue and developed strategies to address it. The Western Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (WAAEH) aims to reduce the overall rate by half over ten years, targeting the needs of specific groups, including Aboriginal people, rough sleepers, and those in need of supported accommodation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of homeless people in Western Australia | 9,700 (2021 Census) |
| Percentage change since 2016 | +7.7% |
| Number of people sleeping rough | 2,315 |
| Percentage of people living in 'severely' crowded dwellings | 39.1% |
| Percentage of people in supported accommodation for the homeless | 19.8% |
| Percentage of people living in boarding houses | 18.1% |
| Number of Western Australians accessing specialised homelessness services (2021-22) | 24,700 |
| Number of clients per month accessing specialised homelessness services (2022) | 3,131 |
| Percentage of clients whose needs were met on exit from specialised services (2023-24) | 41.9% |
| Number of people aged 55+ experiencing homelessness in Australia (2021) | 19,378 |
| Percentage of older Australians experiencing homelessness (2021) | 15.8% |
| Rate of homelessness per 10,000 people in Western Australia (2016) | 36.4 |
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What You'll Learn
Western Australia's 10-year strategy to end homelessness
Western Australia has a comprehensive strategy in place to tackle the complex issue of homelessness in the state. The strategy, "All Paths Lead to a Home: Western Australia's 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020–2030", aims to ensure that people have access to appropriate accommodation and the support services they need to sustain their tenancy.
The strategy recognizes that homelessness is a multifaceted issue that requires a collaborative approach. It involves all levels of government, business, and the community sector working together to respond to and prevent homelessness. The Western Australian government has committed record investments to support vulnerable Western Australians, reflecting their longstanding dedication to aiding those facing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.
The strategy is implemented through a series of five-year action plans. The first action plan, covering 2020-2025, focuses on building a "No Wrong Door" approach to service delivery, enhancing low-barrier crisis responses, ending rough sleeping, and encouraging innovation. To support this plan, $73.5 million has been allocated for the development of two Common Ground facilities in East Perth and Mandurah, offering permanent, supported housing for those experiencing chronic homelessness or sleeping rough. Additionally, the Western Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (WAAEH) received an additional $2 million in funding through September 2024 to strengthen collaborative efforts and promote evidence-based homelessness service delivery.
The second action plan, for 2025-2030, will outline the steps necessary to realize the strategy's vision, which is that "Everyone has a safe place to call home and is supported to achieve stable and independent lives." This plan will prioritize identifying and addressing the unique challenges faced by culturally and linguistically diverse populations in Western Australia.
To effectively coordinate these efforts, a new Ministerial homelessness portfolio was established in early 2022, along with the Office of Homelessness. These entities work together to improve outcomes for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Furthermore, the Djuripiny Mia - the Supportive Landlord Model (SLM) initiative will deliver 100 homes in collaboration with Housing Choices, specifically targeting rough sleepers in Perth, Peel, and the South-West.
The Western Australian government is committed to making significant strides toward ending homelessness in the state through this comprehensive and collaborative 10-year strategy.
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Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS)
The Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) data is collected monthly from around 1,800 service providers, offering insights into homelessness in Western Australia. However, it does not capture those who do not seek help or receive support. As such, it provides an incomplete picture of the situation.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that people experiencing homelessness are among Australia's most socially and economically disadvantaged. Governments across Australia fund services to support those at risk of or experiencing homelessness. These services are primarily delivered by non-government organisations, including those specialising in specific target groups, such as young people or victims of domestic violence, and those providing general services to those facing housing crises.
In Western Australia, the government has implemented a 10-year strategy, "All Paths Lead to Home," to address homelessness from 2020 to 2030. The strategy involves a $2.4 billion investment over four years to improve social housing and homelessness services. This includes funding for the Western Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (WAAEH) and the planning and design of Common Ground facilities in East Perth and Mandurah, providing permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness.
To support those at risk or experiencing homelessness, Entrypoint Perth offers a free assessment and referral service to access accommodation and support options. Crisis Care provides an after-hours response for reported concerns regarding child safety and wellbeing, as well as referrals for people in crisis. Additionally, the Department of Communities has secured properties in Geraldton for those at risk or experiencing homelessness and invested in a youth homelessness initiative.
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Homelessness among Aboriginal people
Western Australia has committed to addressing the issue of homelessness in the region, as outlined in its 10-year strategy, 'All Paths Lead to a Home'. On Census night in 2021, there were an estimated 9,700 homeless people in Western Australia, with 2,315 sleeping rough. While the data on homelessness in Australia is limited, the issue is considered a priority for the government, which funds various services to support those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Indigenous Australians experiencing homelessness tend to be younger and more likely to be female compared to non-Indigenous homeless people. In 2011, 42% of the Indigenous homeless population were aged 18 or under, and 51% were female. Domestic and family violence is the most common reason that Indigenous people seek assistance from specialist homelessness services, and they are also more likely to present with children, requiring short-term or emergency accommodation.
The rate of homelessness among Indigenous people in Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory is particularly high, with those living in severely crowded dwellings being the largest group. In 2021, the House of Representatives Standing Committee Inquiry into Homelessness recommended a review of homelessness data collection and the inclusion of Indigenous Australian cultural practices and perspectives. The inquiry also highlighted the effectiveness of Aboriginal community-controlled housing services and recommended a national integrated approach to housing and homelessness services for Indigenous Australians.
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Rough sleeping in Western Australia
Homelessness in Western Australia varies between metropolitan, regional, and remote areas. Interestingly, rates of homelessness are higher in regional WA than in metropolitan areas, despite the greater concentration of supported accommodation and support services in urban areas. This disparity may be due to the fact that people in regional WA tend to experience homelessness differently, with more individuals rough sleeping or living in severely overcrowded houses.
The Western Australian government has implemented several initiatives to address rough sleeping and homelessness. The “All Paths Lead to a Home: Western Australia’s 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020–2030" outlines the government's commitment to assisting vulnerable individuals and investing record amounts to address homelessness. The strategy includes funding for the planning and design of two Common Ground facilities in East Perth and Mandurah, which will provide permanent, supported housing for those sleeping rough or experiencing chronic homelessness.
Additionally, the Western Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (WAAEH) has received extended funding to strengthen collaborative efforts and facilitate evidence-based homelessness service delivery. The WAAEH aims to reduce the overall rate of homelessness by half over ten years and has set targets to eliminate the gap between the rates of homelessness for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, end chronic homelessness, and ensure that those supported by homelessness services have their needs met.
Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) are also available in Western Australia, providing specialist support to those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. However, less than half of SHS clients have reported having their immediate needs and goals met upon ending their support period. This highlights the need for a greater focus on understanding and addressing the complex needs of individuals experiencing homelessness.
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Housing First Approach
Western Australia's government has committed to the evidence-based Housing First Approach to help those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The Housing First Support Services (HFSS) aim to help people sleeping rough to find and maintain suitable accommodation and housing. The HFSS works closely with the Housing First System Coordinator, the WA Alliance to End Homelessness, and other community services to ensure appropriate accommodation and housing are sought, and the right support is in place to help people sustain their housing. The support is flexible and tailored to the individual, with no time limit, and includes social and community inclusion and harm reduction approaches. The HFSS includes a specialist Aboriginal service that delivers its services in line with Noongar Housing First Principles, providing culturally appropriate accommodation, employment, health, mental health, financial, and social support across the Perth metro area.
The Housing First Approach was originally developed in the United States in response to the health crisis in New York in the 1990s. It offers immediate access to safe, affordable, and permanent housing, along with wrap-around support services to address mental health, health, and other social needs. The model has been adopted internationally as best practice for providing sustainable housing for people who have experienced long-term or recurring homelessness.
In Western Australia, the Housing First Approach is a key part of the state's 10-year strategy on homelessness for 2020-2030, called All Paths Lead to a Home. The strategy includes funding for the planning and design of two Common Ground facilities in East Perth and Mandurah, which will provide permanent, supported housing for people sleeping rough or experiencing chronic homelessness. The Western Australian government has committed record investment to assist Western Australians in line with its commitment to the Housing First Approach.
Homelessness in Western Australia is a complex issue, and there are limitations to the data available. On Census night in 2021, there were an estimated 9,700 homeless people in Western Australia, up from 9,005 in 2016. Of these, 2,315 were sleeping rough. Structural factors contributing to the risk of homelessness include a lack of adequate income and limited access to affordable and available housing. Individual factors include low educational attainment, experience of family and domestic violence, and ill health, including mental health issues.
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Frequently asked questions
The 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census estimated that there were around 9,700 homeless people in Western Australia, of which 2,315 were sleeping rough.
The Western Australian government has implemented several strategies to address homelessness, including the 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020-2030, which aims to ensure safe, secure, and sustainable homes for Western Australians. The government has also invested in Common Ground facilities, providing permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness.
There are three main sources of data: the Australian Census, the Specialist Homelessness Services Collection (SHSC), and the Zero Project by-name list dashboard.
The WAAEH strategy aims to reduce the overall rate of homelessness by half over ten years, eliminate the disparity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal homelessness rates, end chronic homelessness, and ensure that those supported by homelessness services have their needs met.
Homelessness rates are higher in regional Western Australia compared to metropolitan areas, with the Kimberley, South West, and Pilbara regions experiencing the highest numbers. People in regional areas tend to experience more rough sleeping and overcrowded housing due to limited support services.
