Anglicare WA CEO Mark Glasson highlighted the urgent need for the government to address the housing crisis and cost of living issues affecting families across Western Australia.
Housing Crisis: How Did We Get Here?
The housing crisis, along with the rising cost of living, are the top issues facing families in Western Australia today. Many families are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table, let alone find a place to call home. The number of people accessing government-funded homelessness services in WA has increased by 39% over the past five years.
Several years of increasing population and declining availability, combined with persistently high interest rates, have seen both rents and mortgages rise. Anglicare WA’s annual Rental Affordability Snapshot showed that there are 59% fewer properties across the state than were available at the start of the pandemic. In Perth, the median weekly rental price has risen to $650, up 75% since April 2020, while wages and income support have only been raised minimally and remain significantly below the poverty line.
The trend to shared housing is another sign of West Australians struggling to make ends meet. This means more people will be forced into unsuitable or unstable accommodation, and people will go without medical treatments, prescriptions, and even food to keep a roof over their heads.
Government Response and Future Needs
The State Government is making positive moves to address the issue, including the WA Rent Relief Program, Residential Tenancy Act Reforms, and more investments in social housing construction, spot purchasing, and private rental supply. These are welcome changes, but more needs to be done both at scale and at pace to ensure Western Australians can access a safe, secure, and healthy home.
Mark Glasson emphasized the need for increased emergency relief funding, expanded concessions, and more private and social housing supply. "There’s no excuse for this crisis in WA. We are the richest state in one of the richest countries in the world. It’s time to ensure people have access to safe, secure, and healthy homes that are affordable for everybody," he said.
"There’s no excuse for this crisis in WA. We are the richest state in one of the richest countries in the world."
Anglicare WA continues to advocate for bold and immediate action to address the housing crisis and support the well-being of all Western Australians.
