Premier Roger Cook and Housing Minister John Carey announce measures to tackle homelessness & rough sleeping

The construction start date of the long-awaited Aboriginal short-stay accommodation facility has been revealed, as well as a new initiative that will see more than a dozen social homes in Geraldton.

Premier Roger Cook and Minister for Housing John Carey visited Geraldton’s Bundiyarra Aboriginal Corporation on Wednesday where they announced the significant investments into tackling homelessness and rough sleeping.

Geraldton will benefit from a program called the Supportive Landlord Model, which will see 13 homes spot purchased in Geraldton and turned into social housing.

“We purchase the house, and give it to the community housing provider to house people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping,” Mr Carey said.

The minister could not confirm when the houses would be acquired. “It just depends on the market,” he said.

“We’re actively looking right now at particular complexes. We want to lock in those community housing providers.”

Mr Carey said the additional social housing was an interim solution, while support services were sourced to help individuals and more permanent housing arrangements could be found.

The response from the State Government was informed by work done by the Western Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (WAAEH) organisation, which identified Geraldton as one of the first locations in WA to see a measurable reduction in rough sleeping.

WAAEH chief executive David Pearson said the important milestone was credited to a variety of efforts including “having a designated housing first approach and building trust with people experiencing homelessness, and being able to link them with support services”.

Shadow housing minister Steve Martin said a different approach was warranted, and new stock was needed to be built in order for a tangible difference to be made to the housing crisis.

“You’re taking homes off the rental and purchasing market which is still essential accommodation for people,” he said.

Mr Cook and Mr Carey also announced that construction of the short-stay accommodation facility — first announced in 2020 — in Utakarra would start next Wednesday, January 31.

The 44-unit accommodation is designed to house up to 100 First Nations Australians visiting Geraldton, with 16 single or couple rooms, 14 family rooms and 14 universally accessible rooms.

“This is really important to ensure that people don’t sleep rough and have the appropriate support, wraparound services and affordable accommodation in a culturally appropriate environment,” Mr Cook said.

The $23.4 million building contract was awarded to local construction company GBSC Yurra, who will employ 10 Indigenous people during construction.

Mr Carey said the accommodation was essential in breaking the cycle of rough sleeping, and had partnered with Bundiyarra for a 30-year lease arrangement.

“I know journalists love time frames and then go gotcha with politicians. I’m hesitant to give a time frame, we’re conscious of the tight construction market right now,” Mr Carey said, although the State Government website states the completion date is estimated to be in 2025.

Geraldton MP Lara Dalton said the short-stay accommodation would be a “game changer” for Indigenous people visiting Geraldton, “whether it be for hospital, funerals or other services”.

Ms Dalton said the Midwest Aboriginal Organisation Alliance had been advocating for the project for more than a decade.