Vasse MP Libby Mettam wants answers on Busselton's housing woes

Ms Mettam spoke in parliament on June 16 where she detailed the extent of not only the youth homelessness problem in the area but how there are 27 vacant social housing properties.

"There is nothing more concerning for local residents and advocates than to see vacant properties that could otherwise be housing vulnerable people in need," she said.

"These 27 vacant homes could be filled by families in great need.

"We are seeing a new level of homelessness across the state.

"Right across the spectrum, stakeholder groups, charity organisations, the City of Busselton and others are crying out for not only a level of support for the vulnerable, but also an assessment of the size of the problem."

The Department of Communities did not directly answer the Mail's questions on the number of government owned social properties within the City of Busselton.

Ms Mettam also highlighted the Vasse House property which Alliance Housing sub-lease to Accordwest was developed with the intention to help youth in the area.

"But during the COVID-19 pandemic it transitioned to supporting an older population," she said.

"The property is now vacant and there is an outstanding opportunity to provide genuine support for youth in Busselton."

The government last week announced funding to community organisations to help refurbish some of the social housing properties in regional WA.

The government allocated $771,000 of funding which would go towards 140 regional homes.

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A Department of Communities spokesperson said there were nine applications from the South West with all of them being successful.

"Including one respondent in Busselton and one in Margaret River," they said.

Some of the regional organisations include Grand Lodge of Western Australian Freemasons Homes for the Aged Inc, Activ Foundation Incorporated, Pathways Southwest Inc and Southern Aboriginal Corp.

The recipients have six months to complete their refurbishments with the option of the timeline being extended if they need.

"Maintenance works are not expected to have a material impact on construction costs and supply," department spokesperson said.

The department spokesperson said social housing was comprised of both government-owned and community housing managed by community housing organisations.

"The community housing maintenance grants program was designed to assist community housing organisations manage their assets across regional WA," they said.

The department did not clarify to the Mail whether or not those 27 vacant homes Ms Mettam speaks of are government-owned or managed by a community organisation.

The Community Housing Organisation Maintenance Grants falls under the $319 million Social Housing Economic Recovery Package that was announced in June 2020.

The package promises to refurbish up to 1500 existing social housing properties and targeted maintenance programs for up to 3800 regional social housing properties.

Ms Mettam said in parliament that the government should be supporting more private investment into the rental market as part of the solution.

"Governments need to do more to provide accessibility to land in suitable areas so that that opportunity can be undertaken," she said.

"We need to encourage private investment to provide supply in the rental market, but there needs to be some balance in the response and the level of regulation around Airbnb."

The department has provided an update to the Social Housing Economic Recovery Package as of May 31, 2021.

It includes more than 3628 homes across the state with maintenance work completed or underway.

Major refurbishment work had been completed or is underway on 191 across WA.

Contracts have been awarded for 35 new homes with another 115 allocated to sites with planning underway.

The spokesperson said the first two new homes were expected to be completed by July 2021.