The WA Government have introduced a 10 year strategy to address homelessness investing $78.1 million to increase homelessness services in the state.
As part of the strategy two 'Common Ground' facilities will be developed to house and support people who are sleeping rough or experiencing chronic homelessness.
One facility will be based in Perth, while the other location is still being decided.
Under the strategy, 30 per cent of new homes would be delivered in regional WA.
The 'Common Ground' model of supportive housing offers a mix of permanent, affordable housing that is linked with dedicated, tailored support services that address the root causes of homelessness.
Its introduction to WA demonstrates a shift in the way the State Government deals with the complexity of how people come to be experiencing homelessness, recognising that short-term crisis responses are only part of the solution.
In addition, $34.5 million has been set aside over five years for a Housing First Homelessness Initiative (including rental subsidies) to extend successful housing-first collective impact approaches to new locations across WA including in Perth, Rockingham, Mandurah, Bunbury and Geraldton.
Premier Mark McGowan said people could find themselves experiencing homelessness for a wide range of reasons, including family and domestic violence, catastrophic life events such as job loss, mental health issues, alcohol and other drug use and financial stress.
"Safe and stable accommodation is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of people in our community," he said.
Community Services Minister Simone McGurk said they knew homelessness was an issue that we were grappling with in Western Australia, along with many other modern economies.
"The model being implemented is built on the best evidence available, so we can be confident that this landmark funding will make a real difference," she said.
"The 'Common Ground' model aims to provide a safe, secure, affordable and permanent housing option for people experiencing homelessness repeatedly, or over a long period of time.
"It will provide a safe place where services are located on-site and support is available to people who may need employment assistance, have mental health issues or require medical referrals.
"This model has already proven effective in ending chronic homelessness for people who have in the past struggled to access and maintain housing.
"Most importantly, it will give some of the State's most vulnerable residents a place to call home."
Department of Communities assistant director general Greg Cash said at this early stage, the department has not identified the specific properties that will be renovated and the sites where new housing will be constructed.
"The department will undertake this work over the next few months and will select locations in Perth metropolitan and regional areas, including the South West region," he said.
"The 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness recognises the need to develop tailored responses for a range of vulnerable cohorts, including young people, and specific initiatives will be included in the first Action Plan 2020-2025."
Vasse MLA Libby Mettam said this region required an assessment of homelessness and crisis accommodation needs in the area, in addition to an investment in crisis response.
"The need for a better crisis response here in Busselton was identified soon after the opening of the Youth Activity Centre on the Busselton foreshore in 2018, with an increasing amount of youth presenting in need of emergency support," she said.
"Where the only option available is to send a person in need to Bunbury, that option needs to properly supported and facilitated."
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