Geraldton public housing waitlist keeps growing, but median wait time drops as overhaul planned

More people in Geraldton in desperate need of a home are being added to the public housing waitlist, but the waiting time they face is reducing, new figures reveal.

According to data from the Department of Housing and Works, the Geraldton preference zone had 946 applicants on the public housing waitlist as of May 31 this year — a 14 per cent increase from the 829 applicants at the same stage last year.

Priority applicants have also jumped, with 338 in May this year compared to 271 in May 2025 — a rise of almost 25 per cent.

While more people are going the queue, the waiting time has dropped, with the data indicating the median timeframe in the Geraldton zone in May this year was 126 weeks, or almost 2½ years.

This is a 21 per cent drop from the median waiting time of 160 weeks, or just over three years, in May 2025.

However, priority wait times have blown out, increasing by 16 per cent from 69 weeks in May 2025 to 80 weeks n May 2026.

The State Government last week revealed it intended to overhaul the public waiting list system for the first time in 70 years.

In a move to get the homeless, domestic violence survivors and the financially challenged into a home in a fast-tracked manner, the Government said it would make the pathway “clearer”, introducing a needs-based model rather than first-in, first-served.

Housing Minister John Carey said the new system would assess levels of need through a housing needs matrix, including the five themes of safety, housing circumstances, medical conditions, accessibility need and cultural considerations.

The new waitlist model is expected to be up and running by 2028.

“It will bring us into alignment with the rest of the country and will mean more people with greatest need, including those facing domestic and family violence and people with disability, will have a place to call home,” Mr Carey said.

Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr said she was hopeful the social housing strategy will ensure people who are most vulnerable in Geraldton will be prioritised when it comes to social housing.

“Changes in the social housing waitlist system do not necessarily mean more houses will become available,” she said.

“Geraldton needs continued investment to ensure it can continue to grow, which includes methods to boosting housing supply.”

Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing CEO Dr Allison Evans said reforming the waitlist was an important step forward in supporting domestic violence adult and child victim-survivors.

“For many victim-survivors escaping family and domestic violence independently maintaining a mortgage or private rental arrangement is unaffordable and social housing is critical for providing long-term, stable housing,” she said.

WA Council of Social Service chief executive Louise Giolitto,said the reform was a welcome step towards a fairer system.

“While we know this alone cannot resolve the housing shortage, it is an important step in helping people with the greatest needs, including those facing multiple challenges, get access to housing sooner,” she said.

Recent figures revealed in Parliament show 106 homes were sitting vacant in the City of Greater Geraldton as of April 30 this year, a drop from the figure of 157 in April 2025.

The average wait time for vacant properties to be occupied is 56 weeks.