City endorses Interim Homelessness Plan

On Tuesday, City of Perth Commissioners endorsed an Interim Homelessness Plan which will see the City take the lead on homelessness within the inner city.

The City of Perth Interim Homelessness Plan includes 36 actions with four priority areas; coordination of homeless services, expansion of existing day centre operating hours to seven days a week 7am to 7pm, the establishment of a safe night shelter and the implementation of an assertive outreach in the inner city.

“The City of Perth has a shared responsibility in ending homelessness in the inner city together with the State Government,” Chair Commissioner Eric Lumsden said.

“In meeting the four priorities of the Interim Homelessness Plan and aligning with the strategic direction of the broader Perth homelessness sector, the City of Perth will lead the coordination of homeless services to work towards ending homelessness in Perth.”

Through the City Homelessness Framework Committee, the Perth homelessness sector identified key actions across different levels of government, service providers and industry bodies, forming a shared sector action plan.

The action plan provides an opportunity to align strategic direction, further supporting the WA Alliance to End Homelessness’ 10-year strategy to end homelessness in Western Australia by 2029.

Identified as a priority, a Homelessness Services Accreditation Process (HSAP) led by the City of Perth will also be launched later this year, with a 12-month trial to assist in the coordination of homelessness groups providing service delivery in the CBD.

Focusing on developing support service hubs away from the core retail precinct, the HSAP is part of a broader, immediate plan to help people experiencing homelessness in the city.

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