The City of Fremantle is seeking Council support to progress plans for a new overnight respite accommodation service that would provide a safe place to sleep and access support for people experiencing homelessness in Fremantle.
The proposal, to be considered by Council following approval from the Strategic and General Services Committee on Wednesday night, would see the City work exclusively with St Patrick's Community Support Centre (St Pat's) to develop an overnight respite centre at the City-owned building at 14 Parry Street.
The proposed service would operate seven nights a week, providing up to 28 beds each night for men and women, with the option to also include two family rooms. The centre would offer short-term overnight respite and connections to support services.
Fremantle Mayor Ben Lawver said the proposal recognised that homelessness was a complex issue requiring collaboration across all levels of government and the community sector.
"Homelessness is one of the most significant social challenges facing Fremantle, and no single organisation can solve it alone," Mayor Lawver said.
"This proposal is about creating a safe place for people to sleep overnight while connecting them with the specialist support they need. It is a critical missing piece in the support structure for vulnerable people in Fremantle."
The City is proposing to enter an exclusivity arrangement with St Pat's to further develop the project, undertake community engagement, and pursue State Government operating funding required to establish the service.
$500,000 of municipal funds has been allocated in the 2026-27 budget for capital funding to convert the facility for the purpose with the City also seeking other contributions to support the capital fit out.
The proposal would provide a similar service to that of Tom Fisher House, run by Vinnies in Perth and has been developed with St Pat's, drawing on the organisation's decades of experience delivering homelessness services in Fremantle.
Mayor Lawver said the City of Fremantle is a leader among local governments, in helping to find solutions to end homelessness with compassion and respect.
"The City of Fremantle could be the first local government in Western Australia to use one of its assets for this purpose," Mayor Lawver said.
"This is a genuine opportunity for the City to make a meaningful and practical contribution to addressing rough sleeping in Fremantle."
If approved, the City will work with St Pat's to develop detailed plans, undertake community consultation, and advocate for a minimum five-year State Government funding commitment to operate the service.
"Fremantle has a proud history of turning compassion into action, and St Pat's welcomes the opportunity to work alongside the City of Fremantle in developing a proposal with the potential to make a real and lasting difference to people's lives," St Pat's Chief Executive Officer Michael Piu said.
"We commend the City of Fremantle for its leadership and willingness to work collaboratively on practical, evidence-informed responses to homelessness. This proposal recognises that while housing remains the long-term solution, people also need safety, dignity and support while that journey continues.
"The community has been clear that it wants meaningful action on homelessness. This proposal represents a practical step that can help people experiencing rough sleeping while supporting a safer and more inclusive community for everyone. By providing a safe place to stay overnight and connect with professional support, healthcare and pathways to housing, we believe it has the potential to improve outcomes both for vulnerable individuals and for the wider Fremantle community," Mr Piu said.
The proposed respite centre would occupy the City-owned, former St John Ambulance station building at 14 Parry Street, which has been identified as well suited to the service because of its proximity to existing support services and its layout.
It's anticipated that the proposal will go to Council at its next meeting on 22 July 2026.
