- Cook Labor Government funding Shelter WA to deliver a new capability building program supporting community housing providers
- Government delivering more social, community and affordable housing to help every Western Australian have a home
The Cook Labor Government is investing $6 million in a new capability building program, to be delivered by Shelter WA, helping community housing providers (CHPs) deliver more housing.
The program is modelled on a similar Queensland initiative and will include business advisory services, growth readiness assessments, and learning and development.
It will be open to both registered and unregistered community housing providers and organisations, ensuring broad access across the sector to lifting capability and governance support.
Shelter WA is the peak body for community housing and homelessness in Western Australia and currently represents 84 members across the community housing and homelessness sector.
The organisation plays a key role in supporting both registered and emerging CHPs.
The State Government has invested a record $6.3 billion in housing and homelessness measures since 2021, delivering more than 3900 social homes in that time.
This also includes significant investments in projects that will be managed by CHPs, delivering more social homes and affordable rentals for key workers and those on low to moderate incomes.
As stated by Housing and Works Minister John Carey:
"Community housing providers play an important role in delivering and managing safe, affordable homes for Western Australians, and our government is committed to growing the sector
"This $6 million partnership with Shelter WA will help us increase opportunities to work with the sector to deliver more social and affordable housing projects in WA, including through the Housing Australia Future Fund.
"This capability fund comes in addition to our partnerships with the sector to deliver significant build to rent and capital projects across Perth, with thousands of social and affordable homes in the pipeline."
As stated by Shelter WA CEO Kath Snell:
"Shelter WA welcomes this significant commitment by the State Government and is proud to partner with the Council of Aboriginal Services WA and the Department of Housing and Works to steer the project.
"The $6 million investment will fund the project's operations over four years, supporting grants, growth assessments, and a dedicated sector learning and development stream.
"This initiative demonstrates the government's clear intent to work directly with the sector and to actively support the growth and sustainability of WA's community housing sector.
"Shelter WA is thrilled to see this project launch and looks forward to the tangible impact this investment will deliver across the sector and our communities."
