New funding strengthens response to City of Perth homelessness

  • Additional funding to expand support services for people experiencing homelessness in central Perth
  • Tranby Centre doors to now open 7am to 7pm, seven days a week, to help rough sleepers get back on track
  • New book released featuring personal stories of homelessness ahead of launching 10-year Strategy on Homelessness in late 2019
  • Total amount invested in new initiatives is $1.5 million
  • The McGowan Labor Government will provide additional funding to services at the coalface of supporting rough sleepers in the City of Perth and City of Vincent.

    Community Services Minister Simone McGurk has announced $500,000 in new funding to deliver immediate on-the-ground assistance to the Perth CBD’s most vulnerable residents.

    Announced during Homelessness Week, the extra funds will enable an expansion of operating hours at Northbridge’s Tranby Centre, which provides crucial support to people experiencing homelessness across central Perth.

    There is currently no drop-in centre for rough sleepers who need assistance in the City of Perth after 2pm on weekdays, after midday on Saturday and on Sundays.

    The funding boost will enable Uniting Care West to open Tranby Centre 7am to 7pm, seven days a week.

    This means rough-sleepers can visit or be referred to the centre – a vital connection point where they can access services they need – by outreach workers or WA Police in the afternoon and early evenings, as well as on weekends.

    The McGowan Government will also contribute $550,000 to keeping the doors of Leederville youth homelessness service Foyer Oxford open, with Anglicare WA to provide the other half of the money needed.

    A further $440,000 will go towards implementing the first trial of the Anglicare-led Home Stretch program, supporting up to 15 care leavers in the Fremantle area to significantly reduce their risk of becoming homeless after turning 18.

    While providing an immediate response to current issues with homelessness affecting the community in central Perth, the McGowan Government is developing the State’s first 10-year Homelessness Strategy.

    The Strategy is the culmination of the McGowan Government’s extensive and ongoing work to deliver lasting and evidence-based solutions to homelessness in partnership with the community services sector and local governments.

    Ahead of the Strategy’s release later this year, Minister McGurk has today launched a collection of personal stories from Western Australians who have experienced homelessness.

    The book, When there’s no place to call home, has been published to raise awareness of the issues faced by people experiencing homelessness and the action required to develop enduring solutions.

    The stories, which detail the complex and personal circumstances that can lead to someone becoming homeless, were collected by the Department of Communities during the consultation process for the strategy and are being used to inform its development.

    As stated by Community Services Minister Simone McGurk:

    “The McGowan Government is committed to supporting people who are experiencing homelessness and recognises the complexity of this issue.

    “The first step in delivering lasting change is to ensure that people – especially those in the Perth CBD – have avenues to help them access the support they need.

    “This funding will allow the Tranby Centre to significantly expand its operating hours, meaning more people experiencing homelessness can be referred to the centre, or drop in to get advice, support and assistance as they work to get back on their feet.

    “This reflects our ongoing commitment to work in partnership with the community sector, to listen to the community and to deliver compassionate and genuine supports to people doing it tough.

    “This funding forms part of a much larger effort shared across government, community and private sectors to deliver more coordinated, sustainable and lasting solutions to end homelessness.

    As stated by Member for Perth John Carey:

    “For the past 16 months, I have co-chaired a City of Perth working group, bringing major service providers together to drive a more targeted and practical approach.

    “To date, there has been no coordinated city wide approach to homelessness, despite 50 groups working in the City of Perth.  This is now changing with the roll out of an accreditation system for all homelessness providers and dedicated service precincts.

    “The working group also identified the key action to fund a full day drop-in centre for rough sleepers from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week at the Tranby hub.

    “This is a major win for the city – and part of our plan to consolidate efforts across CBD and inner city.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.