The recent meeting with Shelter WA CEO Kath Snell provided an opportunity for key local service providers to highlight the scale of housing and homelessness challenges in the City, and to call for targeted support where it’s needed most.
“Homelessness and housing availability are pressing concerns for many local governments, but Rockingham faces a particularly unique challenge,” said City of Rockingham Mayor Deb Hamblin.
With major defence upgrades underway at HMAS Stirling and the arrival of defence personnel under the AUKUS agreement, she said the City is anticipating a significant increase in housing demand in the area.
“This makes the need for investment in transitional accomodation even more critical.
“As the provision of social and crisis accommodation is a state government responsibility, in May 2023 Council formally adopted an advocacy position calling on the state government to prioritise crisis accommodation in Rockingham.
“We hope that by strengthening Shelter WA’s understanding of our local circumstances, they will be better equipped to advocate for our most vulnerable.”
The roundtable meeting was hosted by the City of Rockingham, with 20 stakeholders discussing concerns shared across the sector including rising homelessness, housing insecurity, and the urgent need for both emergency accommodation and long-term housing solutions, and their recommended solutions.
Shelter WA CEO Kath Snell’s visit also included site tours of four grassroots service providers: Liliah Haven, The Salvation Army, St Brendan’s Homeless Respite, and SCALES Community Legal Centre.
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Photo Caption: (L-R) Project Lead - HOME Project Sam Phipps, City of Rockingham Mayor Deb Hamblin, and Shelter WA CEO Kath Snell.