As Homelessness Week 2025 begins, we're shining a light on the actions we're taking to help break the cycle of homelessness.
Homelessness is a complex issue and reducing the number of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness is a priority for the State Government, with activity and investment guided by All Paths Lead to a Home: Western Australia's 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020-2030 (the Strategy) .
Gayle Mitchell, A/Executive Director Office of Homelessness said her team works with State and local governments and supports community organisations to deliver a collaborative approach across the homelessness system, manage accommodation support services via government owned homes or buildings, and provide assertive outreach services.
"Despite shortages in the housing market and challenges in the homelessness system, we're doing what we can to transition people from our streets to temporary supported accommodation like Wandjoo Bidi and Boorloo Bidee Mia , or to social homes across metropolitan areas through the Djuripiny Mia Supportive Landlord Model program," she said.
"The big challenge is accommodation availability in WA: the need for safe, appropriate and affordable housing is growing, so our focus is on supporting outreach services until accommodation becomes available."
The Office of Homelessness Coordination Team works with key partners in the Homelessness Sector, including the Homeless Engagement Assessment Response Team (HEART) and Street to Home Outreach.
HEART is a consortium between St Pat's, Uniting WA, Noongar Mia Mia and Indigo Junction that oversees the coordination of outreach support for people across the Perth metropolitan area.
St Pat's Street to Home assertive outreach service team patrol the streets daily in Fremantle (Walyalup), building trust and a rapport with people they come across who are sleeping rough. Many individuals are known to services, however there are those who will be new to homelessness.
Gayle said the outreach team work closely with people to understand their needs, referring them to services like the Community Hub at St Pat's and health services such as Street Doctor and Homeless Healthcare.
"Fremantle's outreach workers deliver respectful, person-centred support to individuals experiencing homelessness, building an understanding of their circumstance which can often include mental health challenges, substance use and trauma," she said.
"Some people may or may not be open to support, however the outreach workers continue to monitor and persist, knowing the process might take a longer period of time, a different approach, or different workers."
Gayle said the issue of homelessness cannot be solved by one agency or organisation.
"To address homelessness, we need involvement from the whole of community, all levels of government, business, and the community services sector to address and respond to the prevention of homelessness in Western Australia."
Communities is supporting a range of activities to support and highlight homelessness in WA. Visit Homelessness Week 2025 for more information about events.
Visit Office of Homelessness for more information about the work at Communities.
