More than $11million allocated to special housing programs

30/12/94

More than $11 million has been allocated to special housing programs in Western Australia for 1994-95, Housing Minister Kevin Prince said today.

Mr Prince said $6.7 million would be spent on 18 community housing projects and $4.4 million spent on 24 crisis accommodation projects.

"There are thousands of Western Australians who have special needs which can be fulfilled through these special housing programs," Mr Prince said.

"Community housing projects and crisis accommodation provide positive alternatives, which in turn promote self-esteem for the residents."

Mr Prince said community housing projects ranged from housing for people with disabilities and housing for the aged to housing for singles and young people.

Crisis accommodation funding assisted community organisations to house people who were homeless, women and children escaping domestic violence and people in genuine crisis where a high level of support was needed.

Mr Prince said Homeswest, which managed community housing and the crisis accommodation programs, had identified the need for special housing for special groups such as people with disabilities, seniors, singles, youth and Aboriginal people.

"Late last year, Homeswest reviewed its policy for housing people with disabilities so that people with intellectual, psychiatric, neurological, sensory and physical impairment could have more opportunities for suitable and affordable housing," he said..

"The new policy has given more people a wider choice of housing options as well as the opportunity to live life as part of the integrated community while remaining close to support services, family and friends.

"Possibly one of the most important aspects of the program is that it has enabled more community groups to become actively involved in providing housing for their members.

"And this important involvement is reflected in these funding allocations."

Mr Prince said the biggest single allocation was more than $1.059 million in community housing funds for the Murchison Regional Aboriginal Corporation (MRAC) to purchase new transportable houses for families in Yalgoo and Sandstone in the Murchison.

The biggest allocation in the metropolitan area was $1.02 million for three crisis accommodation projects proposed by Perth City Mission.

Perth City Mission will receive:

·   $520,800 for the spot purchase of six one or two-bedroom units in the Carlisle, Victoria Park and Bentley area for homeless 16 to 18-year-old youths who have tried to reconcile with their family and failed.

·   $240,000 for the spot purchase of two, two bedroom units as medium-term accommodation for homeless 18 to 25-year-olds in the Victoria Park, Mt Lawley or Mt Hawthorn areas.  (This group is currently living in older mens' shelters).

·   $264,000 for the spot purchase of a four-bedroom house in the East Perth, Victoria Park or Leederville areas to support 15 to 18-year-old youths.

Other big allocations are:

·   $982,000 to the Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Alcoholics, Drug Addicts and Homeless Persons (ACRAH Inc.) for the spot purchase of seven one or two-bedroom units in inner Perth for appropriate housing for people over 25 years with mental illness and who require support to live independently.

·   $726,000 to the WA Council on Addictions (Cyrenian House - Santa Maria project) for the construction of eight two-bedroom units and office on land owned by the Council in Gnangara for women and children in family crisis.

·   $702,000 to Wesley Central Mission (Wesleycare) to spot purchase five one or two-bedroom units in Perth's inner west to house people with mental illness.

·   $679,200 to the Albany Community Release Program to purchase land and construct five one-bedroom units plus an office for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men in crisis.

·   $510,000 to the Fremantle Youth Service for the spot purchase of five two-bedroom units within the Fremantle area for young pregnant women or new mothers 16-20 years and young people from non-English speaking backgrounds who require externally supported medium-term crisis accommodation.

Mr Prince also said that five housing co-operatives had been allocated extra funding worth a total of more than $1.3 million.

He said the people housed within the co-operatives were on low incomes and required total funding.

Belmont Housing Collective has been allocated $380,000; Perth Housing Collective, $70,000; Subiaco-Leederville Co-Operative, $186,000, Mia Mia Housing Collective (Denmark) $335,000 and the Freo Fringe Housing Collective, $377,000.

Media contact:  Paul Plowman 222 9595